Effects of transfer from the operating room to the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery on hemodynamics and blood gases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of transferring open-heart surgery patients from the operating room to the intensive care unit on hemodynamic parameters and blood gases.

METHODS: The study was conducted as a prospective, observational study at the German Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey in 2007. Hemodynamic, blood gas values, and oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry SpO2 values were recorded in 37 patients who had undergone open-heart surgery. Data were evaluated by descriptive statistical methods, Friedman's test, and correlation analysis.

RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included in this study. The low systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure values prior to transfer, while patients were still under the effect of anesthesia, increased during the transfer, and at one and 30 minutes after completion of transfer and returned to normal values p<0.05. The SpO2 value measured at 30 minutes after completion of transfer was higher than the first value p<0.05. The pH p<0.001 and arterial partial pressure of oxygen p<0.001 values at the beginning of the transfer had significantly increased at the end of the transfer, and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide values had significantly decreased p<0.001.

CONCLUSION: The transfer of open-heart surgery patients was observed to be safe.