Extracorporeal circulation and complications during the immediate postoperative period for cardiac surgery*

Objectives: To compare the frequency of complications presented by patients during the immediate postoperative period (IPP) for cardiac surgery, based on the time of extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Methods: A quantitative, descriptive and correlational study with 83 adult patients, divided into two groups according to the time of ECC. Results: Of the total patients, 44 (53%) had an ECC duration of up to 85 minutes, and 39 (47%) had a time of over 85 minutes. Complications were common in both groups, with the most frequent being pain and oliguria. However, hemothorax, pneumothorax, and acute myocardial infarction occurred only in the group with the longer duration of ECC. Conclusion: The majority of IPP complications presented in similar frequency for patients, independent of ECC time.