• DOI:10.5812/aapm.25337
• Corpus ID: 8356197

Impact of Vitamin C Supplementation on Post-Cardiac Surgery ICU and Hospital Length of Stay

@article{Sadeghpour2015ImpactOV,
  title={Impact of Vitamin C Supplementation on Post-Cardiac Surgery ICU and Hospital Length of Stay},
  author={Anita Sadeghpour and Azin Alizadehasl and Majid Kyavar and Tahereh Sadeghi and Jalal Moludi and Farhad Gholizadeh and Ziae Totonchi and Behshid Ghadrdoost},
  journal={Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine},
  year={2015},
  volume={5}
}

• A. Sadeghpour, A. Alizadehasl, +5 authors B. Ghadrdoost
• Published 1 February 2015
• Medicine
• Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Background: Prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay after cardiac surgery is vitally important and is influenced by both intraoperative and postoperative factors. Objectives: This randomized clinical trial study was designed to assess whether vitamin C supplementation could reduce the length of ICU and hospital stay in post-cardiac surgery patients. Patients and Methods: Two hundred and ninety patients scheduled for adult cardiac surgery including coronary, valve and congenital operations were randomized into two groups: an intervention group, who received 2 g of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) intravenously, immediately before surgery in the operating theatre, followed by 1 g daily oral doses for the first 4 postoperative days; and a placebo group, who received an equal number of identical tablets in the same shape and size. Results: Hospital length of stay was significantly different between the two groups (10.17 ± 4.63 days in the intervention group vs. 12 ± 4.51 days in the placebo group; P = 0.01), while there was no significant difference in the ICU stay between the groups (3.42 ± 1.06 days in intervention group vs. 3.43 ± 1.09 days in the placebo group; P = 0.88). There were significant differences in the intubation time and the drainage volume in the ICU and the first 24 postoperative hours between the two groups (P for both = 0.003). Conclusions: Vitamin C can decrease the length of hospital stay, drainage volume in the ICU and in the first 24 postoperative hours, intubation time and some complications in patients after cardiac surgery; perhaps by decreasing inflammatory factors.