Respiratory care of older adults after cardiac surgery

Older adults are at risk for pulmonary complications and prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. A patient-centered conceptualization of ventilatory support provides a framework for preoperative assessment of postoperative management of older adults at risk for postoperative pulmonary complications. Ventilatory support is a dynamic process whereby physiologic, pathophysiologic, and psychosocial patient variables influence and interact with postoperative clinical practice variables. Research-based respiratory care interventions are proposed to improve recovery outcomes in older adults after cardiac surgery.