Delayed discharge from post-anesthesia care unit: A 20-case retrospective series

Objective: To summarize the characteristics of patients with delayed discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit and to analyze the factors and outcomes of delayed discharge.

Methods: Twenty cases of delayed discharge from the PACU (PACU stay >2 hours after surgery) of the main operating room in Liaocheng People's Hospital, a class A tertiary comprehensive hospital, between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, among 28,084 patients who were transferred to the PACU from the operating rooms after surgery, were retrospectively analyzed. The collected data included patient characteristics, American society of anesthesiologists grade, information related to surgery and anesthesia, and outcomes. The factors for delay were assigned to 1 of 6 groups: delayed recovery from anesthesia, surgical complications, cardiovascular instability, hypoxia, inadequate analgesia, and waiting for the operating room.

Results: The incidence of delayed discharge from PACU was 0.7‰. Among 20 patients, more than half of the patients were over 65 years of age, American society of anesthesiologists grade II~III, body mass index <30 kg/m2, and urological surgery (7, 35%), liver surgery (4, 20%), thoracic surgery (4, 20%) accounted for a relatively high proportion. Nineteen (95%) patients received general anesthesia with or without peripheral nerve block. The main factors included delayed recovery from anesthesia (6, 30%), surgical complications (5, 25%), cardiovascular complications (4, 20%), hypoxia (3,15%). After discharge from the PACU, 1 (5%) died in the intensive care unit, and the other 19 (95%) patients were safely discharged from the hospital.

Conclusion: The incidence of delayed discharge from the PACU was low, and it was more likely to occur in the elderly, during major operations, and under general anesthesia. Delayed recovery from anesthesia was the most common factor. Most patients were safely discharged from the hospital.