Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Surgical Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units.

This study aimed to examine the characteristics and outcomes of postoperative patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Nepal. A retrospective analysis was conducted across 18 ICUs from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, involving 4,509 surgical patients. The study found that 65.9% of these patients were admitted directly from operating theaters, while 23.9% were transferred from wards. The readmission rate was higher for ward-admitted patients (11%) compared to those admitted directly from surgery (3.66%). Overall, surgical patient mortality was 9%, with significantly higher mortality among those admitted from wards (15.8%) versus those from operating theaters (6%). These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve outcomes for patients transferred from wards to ICUs.