Twenty-six patients undergoing coronary bypass graft surgery were randomized in two groups. In group 1, 14 patients were subjected to inspiratory pressure support during spontaneous ventilation (IPSSV) and 12 patients in group 2 were treated with conventional ventilation (CV). The outcome of IPSSV was a definite advantage over the conventional ventilation. The patients in IPSSV group needed +/- 3 h of pressure support before tracheal extubation. The other patients in CV group 2 needed +/- 6 h of mechanical ventilation before being weaned off the ventilator.