Cor Vasa 2003, 44(2):108-110

"Fast track" anesthesia-standard for valve disease surgery

Zbyněk Straka^*, Petr Brůček, Tomáš Vaněk, Michaela Zenáhlíková, Petr Widimský: Kardiocentrum, Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady a 3. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha, Česká republika

"Fast track" anesthesia using an ultrashort-acting opiate without epidural catheter introduction was used in 73 patients undergoing heart valve disease surgery including combined procedures. The patients could be extubated within 15 minutes of the end of the procedure in 60 cases (82%). In one case, hemodynamic instability at the end of surgery required conversion to conventional anesthesia. There was one death within 30 postoperative days; and a low rate of serious postoperative complications was documented. No pulmonary complications were seen. Based on these results, the authors consider "fast track" anesthesia a safe and prospective technique of anesthesia in cardiac surgery, appropriate for heart valve disease including combined procedures.