Prolonged ICU Stays After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Study from China

Strategic Insights -

Pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery often require prolonged stays in the intensive care unit, straining healthcare resources. Researchers at Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China, have identified 14 risk factors for prolonged ICU stays after pediatric cardiac surgery. These findings can help target interventions to reduce ICU duration and associated costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 4348 pediatric patients with congenital heart disease who underwent surgical repair at a single center in China from January 2021 to December 2022.
  • 246 patients experienced prolonged ICU stays or hospital death after surgery, while 4102 patients did not.
  • Multivariable analysis identified 14 independent risk factors for prolonged ICU stays, including:

+ Age

+ Pre-operative data cystatin C

+ Palliative procedure

+ Duration of cardiopulmonary bypass

+ Lactic acid at weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass

+ Postoperative arrhythmia

+ Renal replacement therapy

+ Re-operation

+ Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

+ Re-intubation

+ Central venous pressure 2 hours after transfer to the ICU

+ Volume of chest tube drainage 2 hours after transfer to the ICU

+ Vasoactive-inotropic score on post-operative day 1

+ Left ventricular ejection fraction on post-operative day 1

  • The study aimed to improve care planning and resource management for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Statistics:

  • The study included 4348 pediatric patients with congenital heart disease.
  • 246 patients (5.6%) experienced prolonged ICU stays or hospital death after surgery.
  • 4102 patients (94.4%) did not experience prolonged ICU stays or hospital death after surgery.
  • 14 risk factors were identified by multivariable analysis.
  • The study was conducted at a single center in China from January 2021 to December 2022.

Sources:

  • Medicine Plus. Risk factors for prolonged intensive care unit stay after pediatric cardiac surgery: data from national center for cardiovascular diseases in China. 2025,2(3):100092.
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.medp.2025.100092
  • Peking Union Medical College.
  • Xiaofeng Wang, Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, People's Republic of China.