Faster Transition From Intravenous to Oral Antihypertensives Associated With Improved Outcomes After Aortic Dissection

Background: After stabilization with intravenous (IV) antihypertensives, the impact of speed-of-transition from IV to enteral (PO) medications in the intensive care unit (ICU) is unknown. Objective: To assess ICU length of stay (LOS) based on transition time from IV to PO antihypertensive therapy. Methods: Retrospective study of aortic dissection patients admitted from June 2013 to July 2017 at a tertiary teaching hospital. Patients were grouped based on achieving full transition to PO medications in either ≤72 hours or >72 hours from the first PO dose. Secondary end points included hospital LOS, IV infusion volume, medication cost, and time spent with arterial/central lines. Results: A total of 56 patients transitioned completely from IV to PO therapy in ≤72 hours, and 72 patients required more than 72 hours. Demographics, IV and PO medication choices, and timing of first PO medication administration were similar between groups. ICU LOS was shorter in the group transitioned in ≤72 hours compared with those who took longer to transition (3.6 vs 10.5 days; P < 0.001). Hospital LOS, IV infusion volume, and cost were also significantly lower in the ≤72-hour group ( P < 0.001). The rapid transition group also spent less time with arterial lines (44 vs 156 hours, P < 0.001) and central lines (45 vs 242 hours, P < 0.001). Conclusion and Relevance: In this cohort, transitioning to PO antihypertensives in ≤72 hours was associated with shorter ICU LOS and improvement in other measured outcomes. These observational data are the first to describe a potentially critical juncture in postdissection care; a prospective study is warranted.