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Most patients who undergo elective pulmonary resection can be extubated immediately after the operation, go directly to their room and avoid the intensive care unit, be discharged on postoperative day 3 or 4, and have minimal morbidity and mortality with high satisfaction both at discharge and at the 2-week follow-up contact. Techniques that seem to accomplish this include the following: the use of a water seal, removal of epidural catheters on postoperative day 2, early chest tube management, treatment of persistent air leaks with Heimlich valves, and daily reinforcement of the planned events for each day, as well as on the date of discharge with the patients and their families.

No abstract