Feasibility of the fast-track recovery program after cardiac surgery in Japan.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if a fast-track recovery protocol that is applied in other countries can be used in the present Japanese medical system. Second, we wanted to evaluate the differences if the protocol was adapted from the viewpoint of cost saving, postoperative hospital stay, and adverse complications.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 94 consecutive patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery with conventional techniques on cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary bypass between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2006.