Relationship of age, sex, and procedure type to extubation outcome after heart surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the relationship of age, sex, and type of procedure to extubation outcome (< or = 8 hours or > 8 hours), and to identify barriers to extubation after heart surgery.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental, prospective study.


METHODS
Ten-bed cardiothoracic intensive care unit.


METHODS
Sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing heart surgery.


METHODS
Early (< or = 8 hours) versus delayed (> 8 hours) extubation.


RESULTS
Patients in the delayed extubation group were older (69.1 +/- 11.3 years) than the patients in the early extubation group (59.6 +/- 8.0 years, p = 0.01). Univariate logistic regression comparing age (< 70 or > or = 70 years), sex, and procedure (coronary artery bypass graft or other procedure) identified only age 70 years or older as a predictor of delayed extubation. The unadjusted odds ratio of delayed extubation in patients 70 years or older was 11.25.


CONCLUSIONS
Age is a powerful predictor of delayed extubation after heart surgery. Only postoperative somnolence distinguished barriers to extubation in younger and older patients.
Doering
L V
LV
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nursing 90095-6918, USA.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015300:Ventilator Weaning