Nature and Incidence of Post‐Anesthesia Complications in the Recovery Care Units Among Postoperative Patients in Palestinian Hospitals: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aims: The early postoperative period is defined as a moment of high vulnerability for patients. This period places patients at increased risk for increased physiological problems and complication rates. These complications pose a noteworthy challenge to patient safety and can lead to prolonged hospital stays and increased burden on the healthcare system, especially in clinical settings with limited resources, such as the West Bank. Understanding the nature and incidence of these complications is essential to improving the quality of postoperative care. This study aimed to examine the incidence of post-anesthesia complications among postoperative patients admitted to recovery units in Palestinian hospitals in the West Bank. Methods: A quantitative observational cross-sectional design, which included a sample of 407 postoperative patients admitted to recovery units in governmental and non-governmental hospitals. Data were collected based on the kinds of complications encountered, sociodemographic characteristics, surgical details, and hospital type. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine the frequency of complications and examine their relationship with clinical and sociodemographic variables. Results: The findings revealed that the nervous system was the most affected body system (28.0%). Postoperative pain (4.5%), hypothermia (3.7%), cardiovascular disorders (5.9%), and nausea and vomiting (1.7%) were the most frequent complications, followed by respiratory issues (8.6%). Several factors, including older age (10.3% of patients over 60 experienced complications), type of anesthesia (71.9% for general anesthesia), length of surgery (15.8% for more than 2 h), and the presence of chronic diseases (27.4%), were found to be statistically associated with the incidence of several complications. In addition, in non-government institutions (44.7%), the incidence of complications was higher than in government hospitals (58.4%). Conclusion: These data confirm the significant burden that surgical complications place on patients in post-anesthesia care units, especially in government hospitals, and further demonstrate that immediate and comprehensive interventions are likewise essential for monitoring system improvements, postoperative care, and providing sufficient health and human resources, particularly in resource-limited locations, to ensure patients are safe and recover from surgical procedures.