J. Litmathe  , U. Boeken  , M. Kurt  , P. Feindt  , E. Gams  , 
    CABG-Procedures in Patients with Advanced Age: Early Extubation and Fast Track Management as an Option?,
    The Cardiology,
    Volume 4,Issue 1,
    2008,
    Pages 7-10,
    ISSN 1811-8194,
    tcard.2008.7.10,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=tcard.2008.7.10)
    Abstract: In cardiac surgery shorter hospital stays and decreased costs can be reached by early extubation and fast-track management protocols. The feasibility of such protocols in elderly patients is still discussed controversially. We analyzed 800 consecutive patients undergoing CABG. Total 496 patients (62 %) underwent early extubation, defined as extubation within 6 h postoperatively (group I). In the early extubated group elderly patients  of  at  least  70  years  (n  = 210, mean age 78.1 years) were compared with younger patients (n = 286, 61.2 years). The  mean length of stay (LOS) in hospital  for  all patients extubated within 6 h was 9.1 days vs. 13.3 days for patients who underwent later extubation. The hospital mortality rate was comparable between the older and the younger group of patients (2.6 vs. 2.3%). We found a shorter LOS in hospital among the younger patients (8.5±1.3 vs. 10.2±1.3 days), although the LOS on ICU was similar (old: 31±5 vs. 26±4 h). The immediate extubation (before ICU) could be  correlated  to  the  most  uncomplicated  postoperative courses among all early extubated patients.
    Keywords: CABG-procedures;advanced age;early extubation;fast track management