Recovery units: the future of postoperative cardiac care

A Clinical and Economic Evaluation of Fast-Track Recovery after Cardiac Surgery

<p><b>Background:</b> In the last 5 decades, the care of cardiac surgical patients has improved with the aid of strategies aimed at facilitating patient recovery. One of the innovations in this context is "fast-tracking" or "rapid recovery." This process refers to all interventions that aim to shorten a patient's stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) through accelerating the patient's transfer to a step-down or telemetry unit and to the general ward.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> Patients were allocated to 2 groups. The fast-track group (n = 84) went through an independent theatre recovery unit (TRU). The patients were then transferred on the same day to an intermediate care unit and transferred on the following day to the ward. The intensive care group (52 patients) went to the ICU for at least 1 day, after which they were transferred to the ward.</p><p><b>Results and Discussion:</b> The fast-track pathway significantly reduced the length of stay (LOS) in an intensive care facility (<i>P</i> < .001). The duration of intubation was reduced from a median of 4.08 hours (range, 1.17-13.17 hours) in the intensive care group to 2.75 hours (range, 0.25-18.57 hours) in the fast-track group (<i>P</i> < .001). However, the median values for total hospital LOS, incidences of complications, reintubation, and readmission were similar for the 2 groups. The incidence of failure in the fast-track group was 10%. The mean (SD) cost of the perioperative care was �4182 � �2284 ($6683 � 3650) for the fast-track patients, compared with �4553 � �1355 ($7277 � $2165) for the intensive care group.</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Fast-track recovery after cardiac surgery decreases the intensive care LOS and the total duration of intubation. It is a cost-effective strategy compared with conventional recovery protocols; however, it does not reduce the total hospital LOS or the incidence of complications.</p>

[Leipzig fast-track protocol for cardio-anesthesia. Effective, safe and economical]

BACKGROUND

In November 2005 a complex, multimodal anesthesia fast-track protocol (FTP) was introduced for elective cardiac surgery patients in the Cardiac Center of the University of Leipzig which included changing from an opioid regime to remifentanil and postoperative treatment in a special post-anesthesia recovery and care unit. The goal was to speed up recovery times while maintaining safety and improving costs.

METHOD

A total of 421 patients who underwent the FTP and were treated in the special recovery room were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were compared with patients who had been treated by a standard protocol (SP) prior to instituting the FTP. Primary outcomes were time to extubation, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and treatment costs.

RESULTS

The times to extubation were significantly shorter in the FTP group with 75 min (range 45-110 min) compared to 900 min (range 600-1140 min) in the SP group. Intensive care unit stay and hospital length of stay were also significantly shorter in the FTP group (p<0.01). The reduction of treatment costs of intensive care for FTP patients was 53.5% corresponding to savings of EUR 738 per patient in the FTP group compared with the SP group.

CONCLUSIONS

The Leipzig fast-track protocol for cardio-anesthesia including the central elements of switching opiate therapy to remifentanil and switching patient recovery to a special post-anesthesia recovery and care unit, shortened therapy times, is safe and economically effective.

Early extubation for adult cardiac surgical patients

BACKGROUND

Over 30 studies reported that early extubation (within eight hours) appears to be safe without an increased incidence of morbidity. A benefit of the practice may be cost savings associated with shorter Intensive Care Unit and hospital length of stays.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of early extubation and the impact of the extubating clinician's profession on morbidity, mortality, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, with a subgroup analysis for extubation within four hours or four to eight hours.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)(issue 1, 2003), MEDLINE (January 1966 to June 2003), EMBASE (January 1980 to June 2003), CINAHL (January 1982 to December 2002), SIGLE(January 1980 to December 2002). We searched reference lists of articles and contacted researchers in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials of adult cardiac surgical patients (coronary artery bypass grafts, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, aortic aneurysm repair).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information. A meta-analysis for most outcomes was conducted.

MAIN RESULTS

Six trials were included in the review. There was no evidence of a difference between early and conventionally extubated patients shown in the relative risk and 95% confidence interval for the following outcomes: mortality in intensive care was 0.8 (0.42 to 1.52); thirty day mortality was 1.2 (0.63 to 2.27); myocardial ischaemia was 0.96 (0.71 to 1.30); reintubation within 24 hours of surgery was 5.93 (0.72 to 49.14). Time spent in intensive care and in hospital were significantly shorter for patients extubated early (7.02 hours (- 7.42 to - 6.61) and 1.08 days ( - 1.35 to - 0.82) respectively).

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence of a difference in mortality and morbidity rates between the study groups. Early extubation reduces intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. Studies were underpowered and designed to show differences between study groups rather than equivalence between the groups. Suggested future areas of investigation: establishing the safety and efficacy of immediate extubation compared with early extubation; establishing the most effective means of pain control and reducing anxiety for patients; systematic reviews of the evidence for different parts of the patients journey through a cardiac surgery episode; and the impact of the profession of the clinician making the decision to extubate.

Determinants of intensive care unit length of stay after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to identify independent preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative determinants of intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and to evaluate the usefulness of a mortality risk scoring system, the Parsonnet score, as a prognostic indicator of ICU length of stay after CABG.

METHODS

A prospective nonrandomized sample of 109 consecutive patients was enrolled before CABG and followed prospectively until ICU discharge. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify factors independently associated with ICU length of stay.

RESULTS

One preoperative variable (Parsonnet score) and 4 postoperative variables (length of intubation, presence of arrhythmias, early hemodynamic instability, and 12-hour fluid balance) explained 45.6% of the variance in ICU length of stay. Intraoperative variables were not independent correlates of ICU length of stay. Classification as "extremely high" risk by Parsonnet scoring (score 20) yielded a positive predictive value of 84% for ICU stay >1 day. Negative predictive value was 42.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative and postoperative variables explained a large portion of the variance in ICU stay after CABG. Although the Parsonnet score was not helpful in identifying patients who require only a short ICU stay, it may help clinicians screen for patients likely to require stays >1 day and plan appropriate use of resources in the ICU.

Perioperative predictors of ICU and hospital costs in coronary artery bypass graft surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Economic forces have precipitated intense interest in cost-saving practices for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). While several preoperative variables have been implicated in higher costs, few studies have included perioperative factors. This study evaluated the predictive power of a preoperative mortality risk measurement (Parsonnet score) and of early extubation (< or = 6 h from ICU admission) in determining ICU and hospital costs.

DESIGN

Multivariate correlational design.

SETTING

University hospital in a large metropolitan area.

PATIENTS

All patients (n = 116) undergoing isolated CABG during a 6-month period were studied after the introduction of a clinical pathway.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Clinical data were collected. Costs data were obtained retrospectively from the institutional data system and were derived from individual patient charges by application of department-specific cost-to-charge ratios. In multivariate logistic regression, Parsonnet score (per point odds ratio [OR], 1.09; confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.17), in-hospital coronary angiography (OR, 3.51; CI, 1.23 to 10.01), delayed extubation (OR, 4.59; CI, 1.29 to 16.29), and presence of arrhythmia (OR, 3.50; CI, 1.15 to 10.64) were independent predictors of ICU costs. Only Parsonnet score (OR, 1.09; CI, 1.03 to 1.15) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR, 1.01; CI, 1.00 to 1.02) were independent predictors of hospital costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The Parsonnet score is a useful indicator of both ICU and hospital costs. Early extubation is associated with decreased ICU costs, but is not independently predictive of hospital costs.

Change in anaesthesia practice and postoperative sedation shortens ICU and hospital length of stay following coronary artery bypass surgery

We randomized prospectively 144 patients, undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery, to either early or to routine extubation [mechanical ventilatory support for 4-7 h (Group A), or 8-14 h (Group B)]. Anaesthesia was modified for both groups. The groups were well matched in terms of sex, age, NYHA class, preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time, number of grafts used, and blood units transfused. All patients had normal preoperative respiratory, renal, hepatic and cerebral functions. Mechanical ventilatory support (mean +/- SD) was 6.3 +/- 0.7 h for Group A and 11.6 +/- 1.3 h for Group B. Mean ICU stay was 17 +/- 1.3 h for Group A and 22 +/- 1.2 h for Group B, while the mean hospital stay was 7.3 +/- 0.8 days and 8.4 +/- 0.9, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of all postoperative complications among the two groups. There were no reintubation, readmission to the ICU or death in either group. We concluded that change in anaesthesia practice and early postoperative sedation in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery resulted in earlier tracheal extubation, shorter ICU and hospital length of stay without organ dysfunction or postoperative complications. Early extubation was only possible due to the modification of anaesthesia and ICU sedation regime.

Comparing Nosocomial Infection Rates Among Surgical Intensive-Care Units: The Importance of Separating Cardiothoracic and General Surgery Intensive-Care Units

Among surgical intensive-care units (ICUs), we assessed differences in risk-adjusted nosocomial infection rates between cardiothoracic (CT) and general surgery ICUs, using National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance data from 1987 to 1995. Device-associated rates and average length of stay were significantly lower in CT ICUs. Comparisons of risk-adjusted nosocomial infection rates among CT ICUs should be made separately from rates from general surgery ICUs.

Relationship of age, sex, and procedure type to extubation outcome after heart surgery

OBJECTIVE

To identify the relationship of age, sex, and type of procedure to extubation outcome (< or = 8 hours or > 8 hours), and to identify barriers to extubation after heart surgery.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental, prospective study.

SETTING

Ten-bed cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

SAMPLE

Sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing heart surgery.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Early (< or = 8 hours) versus delayed (> 8 hours) extubation.

RESULTS

Patients in the delayed extubation group were older (69.1 +/- 11.3 years) than the patients in the early extubation group (59.6 +/- 8.0 years, p = 0.01). Univariate logistic regression comparing age (< 70 or > or = 70 years), sex, and procedure (coronary artery bypass graft or other procedure) identified only age 70 years or older as a predictor of delayed extubation. The unadjusted odds ratio of delayed extubation in patients 70 years or older was 11.25.

CONCLUSIONS

Age is a powerful predictor of delayed extubation after heart surgery. Only postoperative somnolence distinguished barriers to extubation in younger and older patients.

Fast-track care after cardiac surgery

This article explains the rationale for fast-track management of low-risk cardiac surgical patients and describes the selection process and care received by these patients at the Royal Brompton Hospital. A review of the fast-track audit is presented and discussed.