Critical issues in early extubation and hospital discharge in thoracic oncology surgery

Of the 3,231 thoracic procedures performed between July 1, 1994, and June 3 0, 1996, 8.9% of patients were ventilated postoperatively; 3.1% required an intensive care unit (ICU) stay of a median of 8 days. Of those patients ad mitted to the ICU, 29% died; 10% of patients requiring postoperative ventil ation were subsequently admitted to the ICU. The majority of thoracic surgi cal patients are extubated at the end of the procedure. Those patients that are left intubated and go to the ICU have a higher mortality rate and a pr olonged hospital stay. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.