Early Postoperative Care After CABG

The early postoperative period after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the period of return and normalization of homeostasis constants and mechanisms altered intraoperatively. Pathophysiologic changes induced by the pump and cardioplegia (on-pump CABG) and mainly featured by systemic inflammatory response and transient myocardial depression are slightly different in off-pump CABG (OPCAB). Nevertheless, in both situations there are standardized protocols in use to return the constants in physiologic limits. The fast track protocols including early extubation and short time stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) became part of perioperative anesthesia management in many cardiac centers, reducing mortality, morbidity, and costs. In this chapter are presented the main homeostatic postoperative modifications, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures of the main complications in the first 24 h after surgery.