[Artificial respiration as treatment of postoperative complications after cardiovascular surgery: indication,...

From 1972 to 1974 524 patients underwent surgery with extra corporal circulation. 83 (15,8%) patients had to be postoperatively ventilated for a prolonged period or reintubed after a symptomfree interval due to anticipated or manifested complications. 31 (37%) out of these expired. There was no death due to the prolonged ventilation itself, shown by the group, in which the causes for the above treatment were others but respiratory failure or insufficiency. All patients of this group survived. Indications, technique and results are described and discussed.