Duration of intubation and ICU stay after open heart surgery.

One hundred four consecutive patients undergoing open heart surgery were studied to determine the duration of intubation and ICU stay associated with an anesthetic management protocol designed to avoid prolonged postoperative respiratory depression. The results document the feasibility and safety of early extubation and shortened ICU stay in patients having operations for ischemic and acquired valvular heart disease. Patients with complex congenital heart defects require significantly longer periods of respiratory support and intensive care.