The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database 2017 Update on Outcomes and Quality

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database (STS GTSD) is a voluntary effort that provides participants with risk-adjusted semiannual performance reports that allow comparison of institutional outcomes against national benchmarks. With nearly 1,000 surgeons contributing data from more than 300 centers across North America, the STS GTSD now includes almost a half million cases. In 2016, updated risk models for lung resection and esophagectomy for cancer were reported, and composite quality measures for lobectomy and esophagectomy were developed. Ongoing efforts include upgrading the STS GTSD, establishing public reporting of lobectomy for lung cancer composite scores, creating an on-line dashboard, and strengthening international collaboration with the European Society of Thoracic Surgery Registry. With these initiatives, the STS GTSD aims to continue to improve quality of care and support research endeavors in general thoracic surgery. This article summarizes current aggregate national outcomes in general thoracic surgery and reviews related activities in the areas of quality measurement, performance improvement, and transparency from the STS GTSD during the past 12 months.