Background: Postoperative respiratory failure after cardiac surgery (CS-PRF) is a devastating complication and its incidence and predictors vary depending on how it is defined and the patient population. Aims: This study was conducted to determine the incidence, predictors and outcomes of CS-PRF defined as prolonged mechanical ventilation >48 hours and reintubation. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 1257 patients who underwent cardiac surgery between June 2011 and December 2018. The research questions were addressed through bivariate inferential, descriptive and binary logistic regression. Results: The overall incidence of CS-PRF was 15.9% and significant regression predictors included diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.77, P = .001), preoperative renal replacement therapy (OR = 2.07, P = .033), need for intraoperative transfusion (OR = 2.35, P = .000), combined coronary bypass/valvular surgery (OR = 2.61, P = .001) and intra-aortic balloon pump (OR = 3.60, P = .000). CS-PRF patients had increased postoperative blood transfusions (69.5% vs 27.