Background: Cardiac surgery is associated with a period of postoperative bed rest. The supine position may contribute to an impaired postoperative lung function. Early mobilization is a vital component to prevent postoperative complications, but precise time when patients are mobilized for the first time out of bed after cardiac surgery has not earlier been described.

Objectives: To study first time postoperative mobilization routines after cardiac surgery in adult patients in Sweden.

Methods: This national observational study was performed at five out of eight hospitals performing cardiac surgery in Sweden during a five-week period the Spring of 2021. Patients were assessed for initial mobilization routine the first 24 h after cardiac surgery (n=290). Data concerning time and type of mobilization were documented, as well as patient characteristics, surgery, and anaesthesia.

Results: Out of 290 patients 13 were not mobilized within the first 24 h after surgery. In total 277 patients (96%) were mobilized out of bed within the first 24 hours after end of surgery and the commencement time of mobilization from arriving to the postoperative unit was in average 8 ± 5 h. Average duration time for first mobilization was 20 minutes. First postoperative mobilization for 61% of patients occurred at the day of surgery and for 39% during the first postoperative day. Location for first-time mobilization was primarily the Intensive care or Postoperative unit (n=262), but also the Step-down/Intermediate care ward (n=15).

Conclusion: Average time for first-time mobilization out of bed after cardiac surgery was 8 hours after arrival to postoperative intensive care unit and duration out of bed was 20 min.