Very early extubation: extubating in the OR following coronary artery bypass

Cardiac surgery patients are being extubated earlier than ever before. This article describes how the nurses responded when the first patient to be extubated in the OR was admitted to the critical care unit. This case shows how this change is not as simple as just extubating the patient. Early extubation requires protocol changes, ethical considerations, system changes, staff education, and evaluation of patient outcomes.