Investigation of the frequency and risk factors of pulmonary complications following cardiac surgery in the hospital

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of pulmonary complications after heart surgery and to assess the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative risk factors. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical study that was conducted on 244 patients who underwent various cardiac surgeries from December 2021 to May 2022 in Shefa Kerman Hospital. This descriptive/analytical study on patients undergoing heart surgery at Shafa Hospital, Kerman, Iran, from December 2021 to May 2022. Pulmonary complications included atelectasis pneumonia, pleural effusion, long-term mechanical ventilation, and respiratory failure. The pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative risk factors were investigated in the present study. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the relationship between risk factors and the incidence of lung complications. Results: In the present study, 55 patients (22.5%) had pulmonary complications, followed by prolonged mechanical ventilation (13.1%), pneumonia (11.5%), respiratory failure (4.1%), pleural effusion (11.1%) and atelectasis (6.1%). Pulmonary complications after heart surgery were associated with days of ICU stay, post-operative stroke, post-operative acute kidney injury, emergency surgery, FFP injection, high drainage rate, and mitral valve replacement surgery (all p <0.001). 4% of patients died after surgery, which was statistically related to pulmonary complications (P<0.0001). The results of multivariable logistic regression test showed that FFP injection, type of heart surgery, hypertension, ICU stay days are capable of predicting pulmonary complications after heart surgery. Conclusion: Mortality was found to be higher in patients with pulmonary complications. Based on the results of the regression analysis, FFP injection, type of surgery, history of hypertension and length of ICU stay were independent risk factors of pulmonary complications.