Post-operative patient care and hospital implications of fast track

Abstract

Safe and efficient postoperative care is one of the corner stones of successful management of cardiac patients. The ever-increasing number of cardiac procedures, together with limited ICU bed availability, frequently leads to the postponement of cardiac procedures. Post-cardiac surgery fast track (FT) management is a multidisciplinary process using multimodal management techniques to improve the efficiency and safety of postoperative patient management, using available resources appropriately. The fast track concept includes the application of different pathways to fit different hospital structures. Fast track is proofed to be safe and the patient s quality of life is better than those following conventional pathways. Especially patients undergoing modern aortic valve replacement techniques are good candidates for FT treatment.