A retrospective analysis of postoperative patients admitted to the intensive care unit

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate postoperative patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to describe their characteristics and outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 1,756 postoperative patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary referral hospital from January 2008 to December 2012. For each patient we recorded: demographic data, reason for admission to the ICU, duration of mechanical ventilation, elective versus emergency surgery, type of anaesthesia, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), and outcome. Results: During the study period, the rate of postoperative ICU admission increased each year, and the number of ICU beds was increased in order to perform a greater number of elective surgical procedures for patients who required postoperative ICU care. In 2008, 20.80 % of the patients were postoperatively admitted to the ICU; 58.97 % were in 2012. The mean ratio of five years was 46.97 %. Median age was 63 (1-94) years, and 57.4 % of the patients were male. The most common reasons for admission were major surgery (41.90 %) and comorbidities (34.10 %). Mortality rates were higher in patients that underwent emergency surgery, received general anesthesia, were operated on by a general surgeon, or had low GCS scores coupled with high ASA or APACHE II scores. Conclusions: The postoperative patients who had metabolic or hemodynamic instability, high ASA or APACHE II scores, and low GCS had higher mortality rates despite ICU care.