Clinical factors associated with unexpected critical care management and prolonged hospitalization after elective cervical spine surgery

To determine preoperative and operative factors associated with the need for unanticipated critical care management and prolonged hospitalization after cervical spine surgery. Retrospective, case controlled study with data collection over 5 yrs. Intensive care unit at a Veterans Affairs hospital. A total of 109 patients who underwent elective cervical decompression for degenerative disease. Anterior or posterior cervical spine surgery. Data were recorded with regard to pre- and postoperative neurologic function, extent of surgery, length and cost of hospitalization and critical care, and preoperative co-morbidities. Of 109 patients, 16 (15%) required critical care management in the early postoperative phase (group I). The remainder (n = 93) represented group II. Group I had an average hospital stay of 18.5 days as compared with 6.1 days for group II (p