Early Extubation after Cardiac Surgery: a Prospective Clinical Trial Including Patients At Risk

266 patients undergoing cardiac surgery (most commonly CABG and valve replacement), including 65 patients (24.4%) with preoperative risk factors (emergency surgery, severe left-ventricular dysfunction, previous heart surgery, recent myocardial infarction, age ≥75 years, or history of several myocardial infarctions) and 201 control patients (75.6%). 38 patients were excluded due to intra- or perioperative complications.

Early extubation protocol applied to patients with preoperative risk factors (risk group)

Early extubation protocol applied to patients without preoperative risk factors (control group)

Percentage of patients extubated within 12 hours