Factors Influencing a Prolonged ICU Stay After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: A prolonged hospital stay causes bed occupancy rates and increases hospital costs. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the ICU length of stay after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 346 patients undergoing CABG between March 2015 and September 2016 were selected through convenience sampling. Based on their ICU length of stay, the patients were divided into 2 groups: ICU length of stay ≤ 72 hours (3 d) (Group A) and ICU length of stay > 72 hours (Group B). Results: Among the 346 patients studied, 93 (27%) patients had an ICU length of stay ≥ 72 hours and 253 (73%) patients had an ICU length of stay < 72 hours. There was no statistically significant difference in the ICU length of stay between the women and men (P = 0.536). The subjects with a history of diabetes and hypertension were more likely to stay in the ICU for a longer period. For the patients with an ICU stay > 72 hours, the number of blood products received; the use of inotropes; the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass; the duration of intubation; cardiac, pulmonary, neural, and renal complications; infection, receiving inotropes in the ICU; postoperative bleeding; return to the operating room; receiving blood; and a history of bleeding were among the influential factors during the patients’ stay in the ICU. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the factors increasing the ICU length of stay after CABG were old age, a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, a prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, receiving inotropes, prolonged intubation, the use of the intra-aortic balloon pump, receiving blood products, and postoperative bleeding.