Fast-track cardiac anaesthesia and early extubation

‘Fast-track’ cardiac anaesthesia and recovery is the term given to a multicomponent intervention during cardiac surgery and postoperatively, with the ultimate goal of early extubation (within 1–6 hours) in order to reduce duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and overall resource utilization. Key components of fast-track cardiac care include balanced anaesthesia (low-dose opioids together with inhaled or intravenous anaesthetics) and a time-directed extubation protocol. Fast-track cardiac care requires an interdisciplinary approach to anaesthesia during surgery, as well as a coordinated approach after surgery, in order to achieve early extubation and an overall streamlined approach to recovery and hospital discharge.