Hi Valerie,
Welcome! I had a septal myectomy in 2020 and I was intubabated post op. I am not a medical expert, but have worked in hospitals for 42 years...I think most everyone after being on the bypass machine is intubated until they can breath on their own. Everyone is different, some with pre-existing conditions, so the time on the respirator is different for each person. They try to wean you off as soon as possible when it is safe. I was on for 4 hours after arriving in ICU. I remember it well! Feel free to ask questions...that's why we are here. It is a big surgery and anyone would be nervous about it. Having trust in your surgeon, the hospital and the nurses is very important, and the Mayo Clinic is the top in the world, the best of the best. Of course I am slightly biased 🙂