Lung function following cardiac surgery is not affected by postoperative ventilation time

We investigated the effect of postoperative ventilation time on lung function following cardiac surgery. A prospective observational study of 100 elective patients. Anaesthetic technique and postoperative ventilation times reflected the routine of participating anaesthetists. Group I (n = 29) patients were extubated prior to leaving the operating room, Group II (n = 37) within 8 hours and Group III (n = 28) after 8 hours. Oxygen saturation on air, spirometry and chest x-rays were performed preoperatively and on postoperative days 2, 3 and 4. No demographic differences were detected between groups. There was no mortality, perioperative myocardial infarction or reintubation in any group. Lung function significantly declined following surgery in all groups (p<0.0001) for all endpoints, but was not different between groups. Chest x-ray changes were common in all groups but not significantly different between groups. Immediate extubation does not worsen lung function compared to early or late extubation.