Analysis of thoracic surgery patients in need of postoperative intensive care

Analysıs of Thoracıc Surgery Patıents in Need Of Postoperatıve Intensıve Care Objective: The aim of our study was to perform a retrospective analysis of thoracic surgery patients who admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery and to analyze the risk factors for postoperative complications. Material and Method: The study included 91 thoracic surgery patients who are followed up in the ICU after surgery between January 2020 and December 2023. Demographic, anesthetic and surgical data, preoperative and postoperative laboratory values, reason for ICU admission, ICU treatment data, postoperative complications, ICU and hospital length of stay were recorded retrospectively by scanning the hospital electronic data system and archive patient files. Results: During the study period, 1255 patients were operated by the thoracic surgery department of our hospital and 91 of them (7.25) admitted to the ICU after surgery. Of the patients, 66 were male (72.5%), 25 were female (27.5%) and the mean age was 52.27±21.90 years. 49 patients (53.8%) were in the ASA III group, 38 patients (41.8%) in the ASA II group, and 4 patients (4.4%) in the ASA I group. Modified Charlson score was calculated as mild (1-2) in 27 patients, moderate (3-4) in 25 patients, and severe (≥5) in 39 patients. The number of patients with smoking history was 58 (63.7%). The number of patients with comorbidities was 77 (84.6%), including 32 patients had hypertension (35.2%), 26 patients had diabetes (28.6%), 26 patients had cardiovascular disease (28.6%), and 21 patients had COPD (23.1%). The patients were most commonly admitted to the ICU for postoperative follow-up (54.9%) and respiratory reasons (46.2%). Preoperative mean FEV1 was 1833±803 mL, FVC was 2644±731 mL, and FEV1/FVC % was 73.63±11.25. There was a statistically significant difference in the development of postoperative complications between patients with and without regional analgesia technique (p<0.001). The other parameters examined had no effect on the development of postoperative complications (p>0.05). Conclusion: Patients who are followed up in the ICU after thoracic surgery are generally male, with a middle age, higher ASA and Modified Charlson scores, had smoking history and comorbidities. The two most common reasons for admission to the ICU are close monitoring and respiratory problems. Regional techniques for postoperative analgesia reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and hospital stay in thoracic surgery patients who are followed up in the ICU after surgery. Key Words: Postoperative analgesia, postoperative complications, regional technique, thoracic surgery, intensive care unit