Adopting a fast-track approach to cardiac surgery

In the UK fast-tracking is a clinical practice that reduces the need For or duration of, postoperative critical care support, thus allowing Patients to be admitted to clinical areas other than the intensive care Unit (ICU) after surgery. In some other countries, notably the USA, this Practice is used to reduce ICU length of stay and hence costs. Implicit in successful fast-tracking is the improved clinical condition Of patients (a quality issue), which reduces time to extubation and Facilitates same-day discharge to lower dependency beds. This Relieves the pressure on over-stretched critical care resources, Impacts beneficially on operative cancellation rates and frees up ICU Beds for emergency admissions.