Readmission costs related to intensive care after cardiac surgery. analysis of risk factors and costs within six months after discharge using an administrative registry

Introduction Prolonged stay in intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery may increase the long-term risk of readmission. Preoperative risk factors, surgical complications, infections and organ failure may need specific intensive support, increasing costs of reimbursement mainly for ICU interventions. Readmission costs over months after discharge may be a dependant of the need of intensive care. Objectives We analyzed the impact of ICU interventions and patients ́ conditions on readmission risk and on global costs of reimbursement from the National health service with DRG methodology and assessed the impact of ICU on global costs for complicated cardiac surgery patients.