Abstract:
This prospective observational studys aimed to determine the incidence and the risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilator among patients after abdominal surgery. Studied sample comprised 90 patients underwent both elective and emergency abdominal surgery under general anesthesia who were admitted to Surgical ICU of a university hospital resided in Bangkok, Thailand. Chi-square and Fisher exact test were employed for statistical analysis and Odd ratio was used to identify risk. Significant level was set at p value < 0.05. The result revealed that 54 patients (60 %) required mechanical ventilator more than 24 hours while 36 patients (40 %) required mechanical ventilator less than 24 hours. Duration of mechanical ventilator used among all patients ranged from 150 to 22,920 minutes. Among patients who required mechanical ventilator less than 24 hours, the average time of ventilator used was 560 minutes while ones who required mechanical ventilator more than 24 hours, the average time of ventilator used was 2,760 minutes. Risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation included preoperative shock (OR = 5.950, 95%CI = 1.262 28.048), did not receive preoperative teaching(OR = 4.462, 95%CI = 1.67011.923), having early postoperative complications up to the second level (OR = 5.2, 95%CI = 2.085 - 12.966), having intra-operative physical instability (OR = 3.5, 95%CI = 1.354 9.047) having poor nutritional status prior to the surgery (OR = 3.314, 95%CI = 1.238 8.871), and receiving upper abdominal surgery (OR = 2.954, 95%CI = 1.019 8.567). In order to facilitate postoperative recovery it is recommended that patients should be provided with preoperative nutritional support and preoperative teaching. In a case of preoperative shock, patient should be well managed before a surgical time. During the operation, patients should be monitored and kept their hemodynamic stable. Patients who received upper abdominal surgery or experienced early postoperative complications should be closely monitored because they are at risk for prolonged mechanical ventilation.