The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2026 Update on Outcomes and Research

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) is one of the largest and most comprehensive clinical databases, containing data from >8.6 million cardiac operations performed in the United States. The ACSD provides a platform for quality through risk modeling and performance metrics, scientific inquiry through robust outcomes research, and health policy through broad hospital participation. The ACSD is a dynamic, continuously evolving tool for the specialty, with recent initiatives including linkage to longitudinal health data as well as refinement and expansion of existing risk models. This report summarizes the current status of the ACSD and major trends in the specialty. Specifically, data on procedural volumes, surgical practices, and outcomes as well as ACSD research are discussed.