Predictors of long intensive care unit stay following cardiac surgery in children.

OBJECTIVE Prolonged length of stay in intensive care units after congenital heart disease surgery is associated with poor outcome, places a considerable burden on the financial resources of hospitals, and is an organizational challenge as well. This research discusses the impact of perioperative factors on prolonged stay in intensive care units. METHODS This is a retrospective study examining the determinants of prolonged intensive care length of stay in 693 children after cardiac surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for an intensive care unit stay over 3 and over 14 days. RESULTS Neonatal age, preoperative mechanical ventilation and preoperative myocardial dysfunction, complexity and duration of procedures, as well as postoperative complications (low cardiac output syndrome, bleeding, re-operation, acute kidney injury, sepsis, respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension, pneumothorax, postoperative cardiac arrest, pneumonia, and delayed sternum closure) prolong intensive care unit hospitalization over 3 days. Patients with acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy, pneumothorax, pulmonary hypertension, need for re-operation during the same admission, and myocardial dysfunction prior to surgery are at high risk of intensive care unit stay over 14 days. CONCLUSIONS Some patients with a risk of prolonged hospitalization may be identified preoperatively, the others just after the operation. Optimizing preoperative status and aggressive treatment of complications may have significant influence on the duration of hospitalization in intensive care units. The knowledge of risk factors may facilitate organizational procedures and rational bed management.