Predictors for Length of Stay after Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Aortic valve replacement improves and prolongs lives of patients with aortic valve disease, but requires significant healthcare resources, which are mainly determined by the length of associated hospital stays. Therefore, this study aims to identify risk factors for extended length of stay after surgical aortic valve replacement.Between 2018 and 2023, 458 consecutive patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement at our center and were included in our analysis. To identify independent predictors for hospital and intensive care unit stay, multivariable linear regression analysis using backward elimination process was performed.Upon multivariable linear regression, endocarditis (regression coefficient [β] 2.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51, 4.45; <i>p</i> < 0.001]) and prior aortic valve surgery (β 1.72; 95% CI 0.18, 3.26; <i>p</i> = 0.029) were associated with prolonged hospital stay. Prior aortic valve surgery was associated with prolonged intensive care unit stay (β 0.99; 95% CI 0.39, 1.59; <i>p</i> = 0.001) as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (β 1.61; 95% CI 0.66, 2.55; <i>p</i> = 0.001), smaller prosthetic valve sizes (β -0.18; 95% CI -0.30, -0.06; <i>p</i> = 0.003), preoperative atrial fibrillation (β 1.06; 95% CI 0.32, 1.79; <i>p</i> = 0.005), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (β -0.03; 95% CI -0.05, -0.01; <i>p</i> = 0.006).Pending further validation, structured programs aiming to accelerate intensive care unit and hospital discharge after surgical aortic valve replacement should focus on patients with prior cardiac surgery, atrial fibrillation, and COPD. Surgeons should aim to implant large-diameter valves. Furthermore, the identified predictors should be used to discuss surgical versus transcatheter procedures in the interdisciplinary heart team.