Masayuki Akatsuka, Hiroomi Tatsumi, Shinichiro Yoshida, Satoshi Kazuma, Yoichi Katayama, Yuya Goto and Yoshiki Masuda
Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether initiation of a rapid response system (RRS) affected the incidence of unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (UIAs) for treatment of organ dysfunction in the early postoperative period.
Methods: We retrospectively identified patients admitted unexpectedly to the ICU from general wards within the first 72 h after surgery between January 2006 and December 2017. Patients with UIAs were divided into two groups: a pre-RRS group (January 2006-May 2013); and a post-RRS group (June 2013-December 2017). We extracted data on the patients' characteristics, intraoperative status, and postoperative conditions. Student's t-test and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare the patients' characteristics and incidences of UIA in the pre- and post-RRS groups.
Results: Thirty-nine patients (0.06%) underwent UIAs from general wards within the first 72 h after surgery. Preanesthetic condition as evaluated by ASA-physical status (ASA-PS) was ≥ 2, showing that most patients displayed some form of pre-anesthetic complication. The most frequent reasons for UIA were hypoxia in 19 patients (48.7%), shock in 12 patients (30.8%), and disturbance of consciousness in 4 patients (10.3%). The mortality rate in the pre- RRS group was 11.5%. SOFA score was significantly lower in the post-RRS group than in the pre-RRS group. The odds ratio for UIA between the pre- and post-RRS groups was 0.756 (95% confidence interval: 0.388-1.471). This result was not significant, but introduction of an RRS may be associated with an up to 25% reduction in UIA.
Conclusion: Introduction of an RRS did not reduce the incidence of UIA significantly, but severity of organ failure in patients with UIA decreased, resulting in lower UIA-associated mortality. Introduction of an RRS and careful observation of respiration-associated vital signs are therefore crucial to prevent UIA and UIA-related mortality after elective surgery.