Value of a rational postoperative treatment protocol in cardiac surgery

: The postoperative course of 76 patients, who underwent valve and/or coronary surgery during a period of 18 months, was analyzed to determine the influence of the overall non-surgical management on the results of the operations. We used an approach (System analysis) based upon analysis of the cardiac, pulmonary, renal, general metabolic, neurologic, and gastrointestinal subsystems. The use of inotropic support and the incidence of postoperative arrhythmias were lower. The permanence in intensive care unit and the hospital postoperative course were shorter in comparison with all series of patients who had the same type of surgery over the same period in our unit. These results indicate that the postoperative care after cardiac surgery needs accurate analysis, precise deductions and effective treatment.