Risks and Benefits

Prolonged intubation and mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery have been associated with increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery procedures aim at early extubation that offers numerous physiological and psychological benefits. Obviously, like all medical practices, this too is not completely without risks. Overall, the well-known benefits derived from early extubation direct us towards a more efficient, patient-centered model of care, optimizing surgical outcomes and resource utilization in cardiac surgery. Differently, the risks that come from this maneuver are less studied. To maintain protocol effectiveness and obtain the maximum benefits and minimum risks from that, this multidisciplinary approach necessitates collaboration among healthcare providers and continuous patient evaluation.