Could waking up in the operating room speed heart surgery recovery?

NCT ID NCT07757880

First seen Aug 11, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial is testing whether removing the breathing tube in the operating room right after cardiac surgery, instead of waiting until the patient is in the intensive care unit, can improve recovery. The study will include 120 adults at low risk undergoing elective heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. Participants will be randomly assigned to have their breathing tube removed either in the operating room or in the ICU within six hours, and researchers will compare outcomes like complications, time on a ventilator, and days spent at home after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
A procedure comparing immediate breathing-tube removal in the operating room versus removal in the intensive care unit within 6 hours after cardiac surgery.
What this could lead to
If removing the breathing tube in the operating room proves safer and speeds recovery, it could become a standard practice for low-risk cardiac surgery patients, leading to shorter hospital stays and fewer complications.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small, early-stage trial, and the results may not apply to all cardiac surgery patients. There is a risk that immediate extubation in the operating room could lead to breathing difficulties or other complications in some individuals.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02141, United States

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