BACKGROUND
Decreasing the ICU length of stay (LOS) after cardiac operations may increase ICU recidivism, obviating the benefit of early discharge.
METHODS
From January 1, 1994 to January 1, 1998, there were 2,388 consecutive cardiac operations, from which 2,228 patients were discharged alive from the ICU and had sufficient information to determine their incidence of ICU return, the reasons fo...
