Background: The sleep status of patients in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) significantly impacts their recoveries. However, the effects of surgical procedures on sleep are rarely studied. Objective: This study aimed to investigate quantitatively the impact of traditional open surgery (TOS) versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) on patients’ first-night sleep status in a surgical ICU. Methods: Patients transferred to the ICU after surgery were prospectively screened. The sleep status on the night of surgery was assessed by the patient- and nurse-completed Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) and Huawei wearable sleep monitoring wristband. Surgical types and sleep parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 61 patients were enrolled. Compared to patients in the TOS group, patients in the MIS group had a higher nurse-RCSQ score (mean 60.9, SD 16.9 vs mean 51.2, SD 17.3; P=.03), self-RCSQ score (mean 58.6, SD 16.2 vs mean 49.5, SD 14.8; P=.03), and Huawei sleep score (mean 77.9, SD 4.5 vs mean 68.6, SD 11.1; P<.001). Quantitative sleep analysis of Huawei wearable data showed a longer total sleep period (mean 503.0, SD 91.4 vs mean 437.9, SD 144.0 min; P=.04), longer rapid eye movement sleep period (mean 81.0, 52.1 vs mean 55.8, SD 44.5 min; P=.047), and higher deep sleep continuity score (mean 56.4, SD 7.0 vs mean 47.5, SD 12.1; P=.001) in the MIS group. Conclusions: MIS, compared to TOS, contributed to higher sleep quality for patients in the ICU after surgery.
