Likely no. Early tracheal extubation, commonly understood as extubation within 6 hours postoperatively, can be safely achieved following uncomplicated valve surgery in patients with good ventricular function. By contrast, this patient has undergone a double valve replacement, which is associated with increased duration of CPB and aortic cross-clamping, and attendant risks of systemic inflammation, myocardial dysfunction, and metabolic dysfunction. Coagulopathy and postoperative bleeding, pulmonary hypertension, and hypothermia from incomplete and nonuniform rewarming are also common in the immediate postoperative period. Sedation and mechanical ventilation can reduce systemic oxygen requirements during this early phase of recovery, minimize pulmonary hypertension secondary to hypercarbia, hypoxemia and pain, facilitate controlled assessment of patient hemodynamics, and facilitate rewarming.

References

• Bojar RM. Early postoperative care. In: Bojar RM, ed. Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery. 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons; 2021:363-416.
• Charlesworth M, Klein A. Enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery. Anesthesiol Clin. 2022;40:143-155.
• Shaw AD, Guinn NR, Brown JK, et al. Controversies in enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery. Perioper Med (Lond). 2022;11:19.