Routine operation theatre extubation after cardiac surgery in the elderly.

Objectives: The aim was to analyse in-hospital outcomes of patients over 70 years of age undergoing routine immediate operation theatre (OT) extubation after on-pump or off-pump cardiac surgery.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of prospectively collected data over a 4-year period (2011-14) from elderly patients undergoing early extubation after cardiac surgery at a single institution. All patients over 70 years were considered eligible for immediate OT or intensive care unit (ICU) early extubation after meeting specific criteria.