The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database 2019 Annual Report

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Established in 1989, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Database aims to enhance quality improvement and patient safety in cardiothoracic surgery.
• The database comprises four distinct components: Adult Cardiac Surgery, General Thoracic Surgery, Congenital Heart Surgery, and the STS Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Intermacs)/Pediatric Intermacs Database.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide the fourth annual summary of the status and advancements within the STS National Database.
• To highlight key findings and trends in cardiothoracic surgery outcomes, quality improvement initiatives, and patient safety metrics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data collected across the four components of the STS National Database.
• Review of scholarly articles published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery focusing on outcomes analysis and quality improvement.

Main Results:

• The article presents an overview of the current status of the STS National Database.
• It summarizes key performance indicators and trends related to adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital heart surgeries, as well as mechanical circulatory support.

Conclusions:

• The STS National Database continues to be a vital resource for monitoring and improving cardiothoracic surgical care.
• Annual summaries provide essential insights into the state of the field, supporting ongoing efforts in quality and safety.