Background: In 1999 so as to decrease the list of cardiac surgery the "fast track" program was started for patients with very mortality low risk. In 2004, this program was extended to moderate risk patients.
Objectives: A prospective, descriptive study to evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics of "fast track" program patients for elective cardiac surgery. We also analyzed the hospital stay, mortality, complications and readmissions.
Methods: From March 2004 to February we included adult patients with indications for cardiac surgery, low to intermediate risk of mortality and complete preoperative requirements.
Results: From a total of 598 patients, 533 were analyzed, aged 47±14 years, 62.5% female. They were classified in four groups: valvular (68%), congenital (25%), coronary artery disease (5%), and mixed (2%). The average hospital stay was: preoperative 1.9, intensive care unit three, postoperative in hospitalization 6.9 and total 11.9 days. We found that 17.8% had a hospital stay longer than 14 days due to: reoperations, pulmonary complications, arrhythmias or infections. The mortality was 4.1 and 2.8% had readmissions three months after surgery.
Conclusions: This program shows a low rate of mortality, hospital stay and readmissions."