Risk Stratification for Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation After Cardiac Surgery in Children

WEANING a patient from mechanical ventilation and early extubation of the trachea in the pediatric postcardiac surgical population normally are performed within 24 hours. Fast-track cardiac anesthesia strives to achieve endotracheal extubation within 1 to 6 hours after cardiac surgery, and ultrafast-track extubation is defined as immediate post-surgical weaning from mechanical ventilation and endotracheal extubation.1 It is not possible to fast-track all post-cardiac surgical patients. Studies indicate that from 1980 onward, between 65% and 88% of all pediatric cardiac surgical patients beyond the neonatal age group are able to undergo successful ultrafast-track endotracheal extubation after cardiac surgical repair and remain safely extubated.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - January 12, 2020 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Matthew Stone, Richard J. Ing, Lawrence Schwartz Tags: Editorial Source Type: research