How long can a person stay on a ventilator after heart bypass surgery?

My father had bypass surgery Friday and is still on the ventilator.

I'm very sorry to hear about your father. Whether or not he comes off the ventilator really depends on what else is going on with him. Is he stable otherwise? Are they keeping him sedated? Is he on many IV drips supporting his heart? Does he have COPD or asthma? How old is he and how is his health otherwise?
To be very honest with you, from personal experience, I"ve had a patient on the ventilator after bypass for months, because there were MANY complications. However, there is a large amount of people who are only on the ventilator for a few hours after surgery.
(I'm sorry I don't know how old you are. Can you talk directly to the physician or do you need to get information from your mother?) If you're an adult and have priviledge to his medical information, stay with your father and speak to the doctors when they round. (if visitation is restricted, ask the nurse to send the physician to the waiting room to speak to you, or even have the physician call you at home.) Ask them what they expect, and how long he'll likely be on the ventilator, and ask why he's been on this long. Your father likely has an intensivist or a pulmonologist on his medical case now that will be able to answer your questions thoroughly.

Opt for a tracheotomy after 2-3 weeks please.My dad went through the same thing in Feb and did not make it.He got pneumonia and there is a lawsuit in progress over everything the hospital staff did not do that they were suppose too.Be there ALOT with your dad,ask the staff questions.

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