Fast tracking in cardiac surgery: is it safe?
MacLeod JB, D’Souza K, Aguiar C, et al. Fast tracking in cardiac surgery: is it safe? J Cardiothorac Surg. 2022;17(1):69. doi:10.1186/s13019-022-01815-9.
Post-operative complications can lead to increased length of hospital stay, cost, and resource utilization. This retrospective study compared “fast track” patients (patients extubated and transferred from ICU to a step-down unit the same day as their procedure) and patients who were not fast tracked. Results showed fast track pathways led to a reduction in ICU and overall hospital length of stay and similar post-operative outcomes.