New arguments in favor of early extubation following surgical interventions on the heart
Deutrich, C.; Olthoff, D.; Lindenau, K.F.
Anaesthesiologie und Reanimation 14(1): 29-36
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0323-4983 PMID: 2784318 Document Number: 341656
An algorithm was introduced for simplification of postoperative treatment after cardiac operations which safely enables an early weaning from the ventilator and extubation. Using this algorithm consequently, the postoperative time of respirator treatment was reduced to an average 132 minutes in adults. The extubation could be performed an average 36 minutes later. In 121 patients with aortocoronary bypass grafts and 57 patients with valve replacements, extensive haemodynamic investigations based on the SWAN-GANZ-monitoring system showed that after weaning from the ventilator and extubation stabilisation occurred after a short period of instability. The data including arterial and mixed venous blood gases confirm that under the conditions of modern cardiac surgery a short postoperative respirator treatment is not only possible but necessary for avoiding cardiocirculatory and respiratory side-effects.