Seminars in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth · Sep 2014
Efficacy of Evolving Early-Extubation Strategy on Early Postoperative Functional Recovery in Pediatric Open-Heart Surgery: A Matched Case-Control Study.
There has been a paradigm shift toward "fast-track" management with early extubation (EE) in cardiac surgery. Our retrospective, matched case-control study wishes to define the benefits of EE in pediatric congenital heart surgery. We examined 50 consecutive pediatric cardiac surgery patients extubated in the operating room (February 2009 to July 2009) against a control group of delayed-extubation patients. ⋯ The reintubation rate was not significant. EE patients have equivalent hemodynamic profiles shown by a decreased necessity for inotropic support. We conclude that EE is feasible in low-/medium-risk pediatric congenital heart surgery patients.