title: Postoperative Critical Care of the Adult Cardiac Surgical Patient. Part I: Routine Postoperative Care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass, cardiac valve, and aortic procedures, is among the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Successful outcomes after cardiac surgery depend on optimum postoperative critical care. The cardiac intensivist must have a comprehensive understanding of cardiopulmonary physiology and the sequelae of cardiopulmonary bypass. In this concise review, targeted at intensivists and surgeons, we discuss the routine management of the postoperative cardiac surgical patient.
  Narrative review of relevant English-language peer-reviewed medical literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Critical care of the cardiac surgical patient is a complex and dynamic endeavor. Adequate fluid resuscitation, appropriate inotropic support, attention to rewarming, and ventilator management are key components. Patient safety is enhanced by experienced personnel, a structured handover between the operating room and ICU teams, and appropriate transfusion strategies.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. 2Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. 3Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: R Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Glenn J R
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Whitman
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D003422:Critical Care; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial