Cardiac surgery in East Africa: a profile of cases and referral to physiotherapy.

Background: A significant increase in cardiac surgery has been observed globally, with prolonged length of stay (LOS) still prevalent due to post-operative complications. Physiotherapy pre and post cardiac surgery is known to reduce these complications and LOS, however cases referred for physiotherapy is unknown.

Objective: The study aimed to describe the profile and pre- and post-operative referrals to physiotherapy of patients admitted to the cardiothoracic unit at a selected hospital in Tanzania over a four-year period.

Method: Descriptive, retrospective design. A data extraction sheet was used to capture demographic, cardiac disease, ICU and hospital LOS, post-operative complications and physiotherapy referral data of all patients ≥18 years of age.

Results: 105 cardiac surgeries were performed. Patients' mean age was 30.6 years (SD=10.48) and 54.3% (n=57/105) were female. Cardiac surgeries performed declined from 48.6% (n=51/105) in 2010 to 10.5% (n=11/105) in 2013. Cardiac arrest (33%, n=7/21), pneumonia (19%, n=4/21) and lung collapse (4.8%, n=1/21) were the notable documented post-operative complications. ICU mortality was highest (72,7%, n=8/11). Only 1% (n=1/105) of cases were referred pre-operatively versus 77.7% (n=80/103) post-operatively for physiotherapy.

Conclusion: Cardiac surgeries were reduced annually but the post-operative complications need to be reduced. Pre-operative physiotherapy referral may reduce pneumonia and lung collapse following cardiac surgery.