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Postoperative pulmonary complications are frequent and entail worst outcomes when they occur after cardiothoracic and thoracic surgery. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) may potentially help to reduce the impact of such complications, or even prevent the progression towards severe acute respiratory failure. In this chapter, we examine the current use of NIV and the potential recommendations for its use in this setting.

Although hyperlactatemia is common after cardiac surgery (CS), its value and utility as a prognostic marker is controversial.

Critically ill surgical patients remain at high risk of adverse outcomes as a result of intra-abdominal infection and its related prolonged length ICU of stay.