Table 3. Postoperative measures in post-anaesthesia care units (PACU, ICU, normal ward).
| Variables | Minor surgery group | Major surgery group | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRS PACU end† | 0.89±1.42 | 0.44±0.75 | 0.063 |
| Opioid use PACU (yes/no) | 12/36 (25%/75%) | 10/30 (25%/75%) | 1.000 |
| O2 application (yes/no)‡ | 19/29 (39.6%/60.4%) | 16/24 (40%/60%) | 0.968 |
| Chest tube duration (d)§ | 3.34±2.67 | 6.93±5.71 | <0.001 |
| ICU (yes/no) | 1/47 (2.1%/97.9%) | 4/36 (10%/90%) | 0.173 |
| Hospital LOS (days)¶ | 6.40±4.51 | 10.10±6.50 | <0.001 |
Continuous data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and categoric variables as number (frequency and/or%). P<0.05 is considered significant. Missing NRS data (n=3) occurred due to failed documentation. Supplemental oxygen was not documented in two cases, because two evaluated patients were not admitted to PACU postoperatively. Chest tube management was not standardized in patients outside the department of thoracic surgery. In a few cases (n=6) hospital length of stay was determined by the (thoracic-nonspecific) underlying disease and was not related to the particular thoracic operation. †, minor n=46, major n=39; ‡, minor n=47, major n=39; §, minor n=44, major n=40; ¶, minor n=43, major n=39). NRS, numeric rating scale; PACU, post-anaesthesia care unit; O2, oxygen; LOS, length of stay.