The results of early extubation after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease in 209 consecutive patients have been reviewed. No patient younger than 3 months of age, 52% of those between 3 and 12 months, and 88% of those older than 12 months had the tracheal tube removed in the operating theatre. Four patients required reintubation of the trachea, three because of respiratory difficulty and one because of cerebral oedema. There were two deaths in the extubated group. Twelve patients had PaO2 values less than 8.0 kPa after operation, despite adequate oxygen therapy. In four of these, this was related to persistent intracardiac shunting. It is concluded that early extubation after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease has minimal risk in carefully selected patients.

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