Abstract

Aim. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the incidence of complications after cardiac surgery in the period from the patient's admission to the ward to three days thereafter at Jamaran Heart Hospital in 2022-2023.

Background. Regarding the selected and proposed treatments for cardiovascular diseases, every year a large number of patients undergo heart and coronary artery bypass graft surgery and valve repair or replacement. According to the surgical procedure, there are many cardiac and non-cardiac complications for these patients. 

Method. The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted between 2022 and 2023 in Jamaran Heart Hospital in Tehran, Iran. In this study, 254 patients who were candidates for heart surgery were recruited using convenience sampling method. Data were collected using demographic characteristics form, checklist for short-term complications after open heart surgery, and numerical pain scale. The time period of data collection was from the moment the patient entered the intensive care unit to the time of transfer to the ward (three days). The data were analyzed in SPSS version 22 using descriptive statistics.

Findings. Most of patients underwent valve surgery or combined valve and coronary artery graft surgery (68.1 percent). Most of patients were male (62.3 percent), and had a history of high blood pressure (60.5 percent). The mean of age and ejection fraction at discharge was 60.4 years and 48.4 percent, respectively. On the third day after surgery, the incidence of complications was as follows: atelectasis, 18.9 percent; pleural effusion, 15 percent; and pneumothorax, 2.8 percent. The highest average pain score was 3.74 when using incentive spirometry and 4.54 when coughing. Regarding arrhythmia, the highest rate was related to sinus tachycardia (12.6 percent) and atrial fibrillation (9.6 percent).

Conclusion. Goal-directed planning is necessary to manage complications after open heart surgery. Conducting more studies with the aim of investigating etiology and appropriate management of risk factors is also suggested.