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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Prolonged Post Anesthesia Care Unit Stay among Adults at a Referral Hospital in
Assumpta Yamuragiye1, Emmanuel Ikitegetse1, Elie Nishimwe Mugisha1
1Anesthesia Department, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Rwanda Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
|February 16, 2026
Summary
A study in Rwanda found that 61.9% of adult surgical patients experienced prolonged stays in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Factors like age, pre-existing conditions, and surgery duration contributed to this challenge.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Outcomes
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Prolonged length of stay (PLS) in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is a global healthcare challenge.
- Limited research exists on the determinants of prolonged PACU stay in Rwanda.
- This study addresses the need to understand PACU stay patterns in a Rwandan referral hospital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of prolonged PACU stay in adult surgical patients.
- To identify risk factors associated with prolonged PACU stay.
- To provide data for improving patient care and resource allocation in Rwanda.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study design.
- Simple random sampling of 126 patient files.
- Bivariate analysis using chi-square and independent t-tests.
Main Results:
- 61.9% of adult surgical patients experienced prolonged PACU stays.
- Significant risk factors included patient age, pre-existing diseases (P=0.039), surgery type, operation duration (P=0.042), anesthesia type, and complications (P=0.022).
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of prolonged PACU stay was identified in the study population.
- These findings highlight the need for focused attention on managing PACU length of stay.
- Further research is recommended to develop interventions for reducing PLS and its adverse effects.
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