Factors associated with early extubation of patients after corrective tetralogy of Fallot.

OBJECTIVE: To assess surgical management and postoperative results associated with early extubation in patients undergoing tetralogy of Fallot corrective surgery at a public hospital in Argentina.

METHODS: A retrospective review was made from clinical records from patients who underwent corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot. A total of 38 clinical records that met the inclusion criteria for the retrospective review were included in the analysis.

RESULTS: 16% were extubated early. Milrinone was the only drug that showed differences in patients who were extubated early (p=0.01). Extracorporeal circulation time, aortic clamping time, transfusion with cryoprecipitates, saturation of oxygen pressure, and haematocrit at the end of the surgical procedure showed no differences (p>.05). In the postoperative period, the ICU stay was shorter for the patients who were extubated early (p=0.0007), but there were no differences in the total hospital stay (p=0.26).

CONCLUSIONS: Early extubation in the institution, although found to be low frequency, has proved as a safe and effective alternative to shorten these patients' stay in ICU.