Factors Affecting Post Open-Heart Surgery Outcomes for Hospitalized patients

Background: Open heart surgery plays an important role in the management of
cardiovascular diseases. A number of preoperative predictive factors for complicated Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) stay were identified. Postoperative outcomes are dependent on the type of these
predictive factors. Aim: study aims to assess factors affecting post open-heart surgery outcomes
for hospitalized patients. Research question: What are the factors affecting post open-heart
surgery outcomes for hospitalized patients?. Study design: descriptive explanatory research
design was selected to fulfill the aim of the study. Setting: Post Cardiothoracic ICU at
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Hospital, Ain Shams University. Subjects: 120 patients
who undergone open heart surgery (CABG / Valve Replacement). Data collection tools: 1)
Patients‟ assessment questionnaire including: demographic characteristics of patients and medical
history data 2) open heart surgery assessment questionnaire, 3) European system for cardiac
operative risk evaluation (EURO score II), 4) Patient‟s self-care knowledge assessment
questionnaire, 5) Patient‟s self-care practice observational checklist. Result: The results of this
study revealed that mean age of the studied patients was above fifty and slightly less than three
quarters of them were males, less than three quarters were overweight, most of them had
hypertension and diabetes mellitus, three quarters of the studied patients were at low risk of death
according to EURO Score II, and the majority of them had satisfactory level of self-care practices
and knowledge. Conclusion: The current study concluded that preoperative vital signs and use of
preoperative and intraoperative use of cardiac inotroptic drugs in addition to postoperative delay
of regaining consciousness and postoperative ICU stay; were the most significant factors
affecting outcomes. Recommendation: Educational program and instructions to follow after the
surgery is needed to improve the outcomes.