Most common cause of delayed PACU discharge

[IkeBoy18]

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Ive been reading these studies and they all seem to lump PONV, drowsiness and pain into one category. Granted I cant see the details as I am looking from home. In your experience, what has been the most common clinical reason for delayed discharge from the PACU?

 

[deleted171991]

One of those three. 🙂

 

[urge]

I would say it is the nurse taking care of the patient. They all have their agenda. At night they don't tend to discharge because they don't want to end up on some floor cleaning poop.

 

[Planktonmd]

"No bed on the floor" is by far the most common reason!

 

[Noyac]

Nursing by far. Either shift change, no bed, delaying pacu d/c so they won't have to take another pt. Luckily this doesn't happen so much at my facility. Also, with an all MD/DO anesthesia group our pacu stays are not very long at all. I would bet the average stay is less than 30 min. Could be closer to 20 min but I'd have to check on that.