Effect of differences in extubation timing on postoperative care following abdominal aortic replacement surgery: a comparison study

BACKGROUND Abdominal aortic replacement requires an extensive incision and strict blood pressure control, making rapid extubation of the tracheal tube and pain management difficult. The effects of extubation timing on the postoperative course and medical costs in the intensive care unit (ICU) were analyzed. METHODS Patients who underwent elective abdominal aortic replacement were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into those extubated on the day of surgery (Group A) and those extubated later (Group B). Group A was subdivided into extubation in the operating room (Group A1) or in the ICU (Group A2). Intubation time in the ICU, postoperative ICU stay, hospital stay, and total ICU expenses were compared among the four groups. RESULTS Of the 191 patients, 95 were extubated on the day of surgery (Group A) and 96 later (Group B). The two groups differed in age and percutaneous coronary intervention history. Surgery and anesthesia durations, intraoperative infusion volume, and intraoperative bleeding amounts differed significantly in the two groups. Epidural anesthesia was given more frequently in Group A. Mean intubation time in the ICU (2.6 ± 2.8 vs 17.4 ± 5.1 hours, P < 0.01), the ICU stay (2.1 ± 0.3 vs 2.4 ± 0.8 days, P < 0.01), and the hospital stay (16.4 ± 5.2 vs 20.2 ± 12.5 days, P = 0.02) were significantly shorter, and total ICU expenses were significantly lower (1,036 ± 307 vs 1,565 ± 1,072 dollars, P < 0.01), in Group A than in Group B. Of the 95 patients in Group A, 34 were extubated in the operating room (Group A1) and 61 in the ICU (Group A2). Arrhythmia, epidural anesthesia, and the amount of intraoperative infusion amount were significantly higher, and the percentage of women significantly lower, in Group A1 (vs Group A2). Postoperative ICU and hospital stays and the ICU costs were not significantly different. CONCLUSION Tracheal tube extubation on the day of abdominal aortic replacement surgery resulted in better postoperative course and lower costs than when extubation occurred later. Patients extubated in the operating room or the ICU on the day of surgery had similar postoperative courses and costs.