Since November 2005, we are running a specialized post anesthetic care unit (PACU) in our tertiary, university affiliated high-volume heart centre. In our concept, we are bypassing ICU admission completely. The fast-track concept was initially applied to pre-selected elective patients undergoing low-risk operations. However, promising outcomes led to a more widespread utilization with more complex procedures. The aim of this study is to analyse the fast track evolutions.

Fast Track Treatment includes many elements recommended by the ERAS Society for cardiac surgery(1). Since November 2005, we are running a specialized post anesthetic care unit (PACU) in our tertiary, university affiliated high-volume heart centre. In our concept, we are bypassing ICU admission completely. The patients are transferred from the operation room to the recovery room, extubated there within a short time, stabilized and transferred on the same day to intermediate care (IMC). Ideally, the patient will be transferred to the normal ward on the first postoperative day. The fast-track concept was initially applied to pre-selected elective patients undergoing low-risk operations. However, promising outcomes led to a more widespread utilization with more complex procedures. The aim of this study is to analyse the evolutions within the fast-track protocol over a period of 15 years (from November 2005 to December 2020).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults >18y

Exclusion Criteria:

• Incomplete data
• Catheter-valve implantation

-All consecutive cardiac surgical patients treatet with Leipzig fast-track protocol

Retrospective analysis of the data ( collected from the hospital clinical information systems) for all consecutive patients admitted to PACU during 15 years.