Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database Research Articles

Risk of Cardiac Reoperation: An Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database

BackgroundThe increasing number of congenital heart disease patients undergoing reoperative cardiac surgery presents critical and growing challenges. Our objective was to evaluate the association between the number of prior cardiopulmonary bypass operations and operative mortality and morbidity in a national cohort. MethodsThe Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) was reviewed for index cardiac operations on cardiopulmonary bypass during 2016 to 2021. Infants and patients with functionally univentricular physiology were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for covariates in the STS-CHSD Mortality Risk Model, the STS-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) Mortality Category, and institutional volume. ResultsOf 50,625 eligible operations, 22,100 (44%) were performed on patients with ≥1 prior cardiopulmonary bypass operations. Most common diagnoses were tetralogy of Fallot (4340 of 22,100 [19.6%]), pulmonary atresia/ventricular septal defect (1334 of 22,100 [6.0%]), and aortic stenosis (966 of 22,100 [4.4%]). Operative mortality correlated with number of prior cardiopulmonary bypass operations: 157 of 28,525 (0.6%) for 0, 127 of 13,488 (0.9%) for 1, 81 of 5,664 (1.4%) for 2, 61 of 2039 (3.0%) for 3, 35 of 623 (5.6%) for 4, 10 of 207 (4.8%) for 5, and 5 of 79 (6.3%) for ≥6 operations (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, patients with ≥3 prior cardiopulmonary bypass operations had higher risk of operative mortality (odds ratio, 2.31; P < .001) and major morbidity (odds ratio, 1.60; P < .001). Annual institutional volume and age were not associated with either outcome. ConclusionsThree or more prior cardiopulmonary bypass operations was an independent risk factor for operative mortality/morbidity, even after controlling for risk factors and institutional volume. Future research is needed to identify modifiable factors to optimize outcomes, particularly for those with ≥3 prior cardiopulmonary bypass operations.

Reoperations in Adolescents and Adults After Prior Arterial Switch Operation: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database Analysis

BackgroundArterial switch operation (ASO) has supplanted physiologic repairs for transposition of the great arteries and related anomalies. As survival rates have increased, so has the potential need for cardiac reoperations to address ASO-related complications arising later in life. MethodsThe Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (2010-2021) was reviewed to assess prevalence and types of cardiac reoperations for patients aged ≥10 years with prior ASO for transposition of the great arteries or double-outlet right ventricle/transposition of the great arteries type. A hierarchical stratification designating 13 procedure categories was established a priori by investigators. Each eligible surgical hospitalization was assigned to the single highest applicable hierarchical category. Outcomes were compared across procedure categories, excluding hospitalizations limited to pacemaker-only and mechanical circulatory support–only procedures. Variation during the study period in relative proportions of left heart vs non–left heart procedure category encounters was assessed. ResultsThere were 698 cardiac surgical hospitalizations for patients aged 10 to 35 years at 100 centers. The most common left heart procedure categories were aortic valve procedures (n = 146), aortic root procedures (n = 117), and coronary artery procedures (n = 40). Of 619 hospitalizations eligible for outcomes analysis, major complications occurred in 11% (67/619). Discharge mortality was 2.3% (14/619). Year-by-year analysis of surgical hospitalizations reveals substantial growth in numbers for the aggregate of all procedure categories. Growth in relative proportions of left heart vs non–left heart procedures was significant (P = .0029; Cochran-Armitage trend test). ConclusionsThis large multicenter study of post-ASO reoperations beyond early childhood documents year-over-year growth in total reoperations. Left-sided heart procedures recently had the highest rate of rise. These observations have implications for counseling, surveillance, and management.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database: 2023 Update on Outcomes and Research

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) continues to be the most comprehensive database of congenital and pediatric cardiothoracic surgical procedures in the world and contains information on 664,210 operations as of June 30, 2023. The 35th harvest of the STS CHSD data was undertaken in Spring 2023, spanning the 4-year period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2022, and included 144,919 operations performed at 114 participating sites in North America. The harvest analysis was successfully executed by the STS Research and Analytic Center. The overall unadjusted mortality rate was 2.68% and has remained stable over the 4 years included in the current harvest window. Mortality is highest in neonates (7.4%) and lowest in children (1.1%). As in prior analyses, observed mortality and postoperative length of stay in the database increase with an increase in STS-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality Categories. This quality report summarizes contemporary outcomes, provides the odds ratios for the CHSD risk model variables based on this analysis, and describes on-going efforts to improve data collection and augment analytical approaches. Lastly, 5 research publications completed in the last year using data from the CHSD are also summarized.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy in Children With Congenital Heart Disease Based on Risk of Surgical Mortality

BackgroundChildren with congenital heart disease (CHD) have a higher prevalence of motor impairment secondary to brain injury, resulting in cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of CP in CHD in a single-center cohort, stratify risk based on surgical mortality using Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) categories and identify risk factors. MethodsRetrospective cohort study of pediatric patients registered in the University of Florida (UF) Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery database from 2006 to 2017 with a diagnosis of CHD who continued follow-up for more than two years at UF. ResultsA total of 701 children with CHD met inclusion criteria. Children identified to have CP were 54 (7.7%). Most common presentation was spastic hemiplegic CP with a Gross Motor Function Classification System of level 2. Analysis of surgical and intensive care factors between the two groups showed that children with CHD and CP had longer time from admission to surgery (P = 0.003), higher STAT categories 4 and 5 (P = 0.038), and higher frequency of brain injury and seizures (P < 0.001). Developmental disabilities and rehabilitation needs were significantly greater for children with CHD and CP when compared with those with CHD alone (P < 0.001). ConclusionsIn our cohort, 7.7% children with CHD develop CP; this is significantly higher than the 2010 US population estimate of 0.3%. Our study suggests higher STAT categories, brain injury, and seizures are associated with developing CP in children with CHD.

Association Between Past and Present Operative Mortality in Congenital Heart Surgery: An Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database

BackgroundMortality after congenital heart surgery is an important metric across benchmarking, quality, and reporting initiatives. All rely on estimates from prior years, and how well these reflect current outcomes is unclear. MethodsIndex operations from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Database (2014-2019) were included. Adjusted operative mortality in “past” 4-year and 1-year intervals vs the most recent year (“present”) was evaluated using Bayesian hierarchical logistic regression with results presented as odds ratios and 95% credible intervals (CrI). ResultsAmong 115,699 operations (106 hospitals), overall present observed mortality was 2.5%. Regression to the mean was evident, and individual hospital’s present vs past adjusted mortality were only weakly correlated (−0.11 vs past 1-year data, 0.22 vs past 4-year data). A significant relationship was found between past and present mortality only for the group of hospitals in the highest mortality quartile, most prominent for past 4-year data (adjusted odds ratio vs lowest mortality quartile, 2.04; 95% CrI, 1.44-2.80). The proportion of present hospital mortality variation explained by past mortality quartile was 52% (95% CrI, 20%-90%) using past 4-year data and only 27% (95% CrI, 92%-83%) using past 1-year data. Overall 66% of hospitals changed mortality quartiles from past to present (30% by ≥2 quartiles). ConclusionsPast mortality relates to present primarily for groups of hospitals at the extremes, with past 4-year data more informative than past 1-year data. For individual hospitals, past may differ from present, regression to the mean is common, and many change quartiles. Past mortality should be used thoughtfully and not as the sole factor informing present decision making.

Perioperative Morbidity and Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Transitioned From Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Ventricular Assist Device Support: A Study of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database.

As a bridge to transplant strategy, children transitioned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to ventricular assist device (VAD) have higher waitlist mortality compared with those who receive de novo VAD. However, the contribution of the immediate perioperative period and differences in the two groups are not well studied. We performed a nested case-control study between children receiving de novo VAD (group 1) and those transitioned from ECMO to VAD (group 2) between 2014 and 2019 using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database. A total of 735 children underwent VAD placement with 498 in group 1 and 237 in group 2. Patients in group 2 were significantly younger, smaller, and significantly sicker, were twice as likely to transition to biventricular VAD and need unplanned reoperations. Overall mortality was 16% for group 1 and 34% for group 2 ( p < 0.01). Regression analysis showed that ECMO use (odds ratio [OR], 2.17 [1.3-3.4]), ventilator need (OR, 2.2 [1.3-3.9]), and cardiogenic shock (OR, 1.8 [1.2-2.8]) were all independent preoperative predictors of VAD mortality while dialysis need (OR, 25.5 [8.6-75.3]), stroke (OR, 6.2 [3.1-12.6]), and bleeding (OR, 1.9 [1.1-3.4]) were independent postoperative predictors of VAD mortality within 30 days (all p < 0.05). The study demonstrated significant baseline differences between the two cohorts, warranting avoidance of comparison. Early elective VAD placement in this cohort of patients should be sought to avoid interim ECMO and high post-VAD mortality.

Contemporary Applications and Outcomes of Pulmonary Artery Banding: An Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database

BackgroundPulmonary artery banding (PAB) in isolation or combined with a congenital cardiac surgical procedure is common and has important mortality. We aimed to determine patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, variation in clinical outcomes by diagnoses, and center variation in PAB use. MethodsUsing The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS CHSD), this study evaluated outcomes of patients undergoing PAB across diagnoses, participating centers, and additional procedures. Patients were identified by procedure and diagnosis codes from 2016 to 2019. We separated patients into groups of main and bilateral PAB and described their outcomes, focusing on patients with main PAB. ResultsThis study identified 3367 PAB procedures from 2016 to 2019 (3% of all STS CHSD cardiovascular cases during this period): 2677 main PAB, 690 bilateral PAB. Operative mortality was 8% after main PAB and 26% after bilateral PAB. There was significant variation in use of main PAB by center, with 115 centers performing at least 1 main PAB procedure (range, 1-134; Q1-Q3, 8-33). For patients with main PAB, there were substantial differences in mortality, depending on timing of main PAB relative to other procedures. The highest operative mortality (25%; P < .0001) was in patients who underwent main PAB after another separate procedure during their admission, with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation being the most frequent preceding procedure. ConclusionsPAB is a frequently used congenital cardiac procedure with high mortality and variation in use across centers. Outcomes vary widely by banding type and patient diagnosis. Main PAB after cardiac surgical procedures, especially extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is associated with very high operative mortality.

Association Between Prenatal Diagnosis and Age at Surgery for Noncritical and Critical Congenital Heart Defects.

The relationship between the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects (CHDs) and age at CHD surgery is poorly understood, despite the known relationships between age at surgery and long-term outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the associations between prenatal diagnosis of CHD and age at surgery, and whether these associations differ for critical and noncritical CHDs. This is a cohort analysis of patients aged 0 to 9 years who received their initial cardiac surgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago between 2015 and 2021 with prenatal diagnosis as the exposure variable. All data were obtained from the locally maintained Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database at Lurie Children's Hospital. We used multivariable fixed effects regression models to estimate the strength of the association of prenatal diagnosis with age at surgery among patients with critical (surgery ≤60 days) and noncritical (surgery >60 days) CHDs. Of 1131 individuals who met inclusion criteria, 532 (47%) had a prenatal diagnosis, 428 (38%) had critical CHDs, 533 (47%) were female, and the median age at surgery was 119 days (interquartile range, 11-309 days). After controlling for demographics, comorbidities, and surgical complexity, the mean age at surgery was significantly younger in those with prenatally versus postnatally diagnosed critical CHD (7.1 days sooner, P<0.001) and noncritical CHDs (atrial septal defects [12.4 months sooner, P=0.037], ventricular septal defects [6.0 months sooner, P<0.003], and noncritical coarctation of the aorta [1.8 months sooner, P=0.010]). Younger age at CHD surgery, which is associated with postsurgical neurodevelopmental and physical outcomes, is significantly associated with prenatal CHD diagnosis. This relationship was identified for both critical and noncritical CHDs.

Outcomes of the Kawashima: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database Analysis

BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate the effect of age at operation on postoperative outcomes in children undergoing a Kawashima operation. MethodsThe Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database was queried for Kawashima procedures from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2020. Patients were stratified by age at operation in months: 0 to <4, 4 to <8, 8 to <12, and >12. Subsequently, outcomes for those in whom the Kawashima was not the index operation and for those undergoing hepatic vein incorporation (Fontan completion or hepatic vein–to–azygos vein connection) were evaluated. ResultsWe identified 253 patients who underwent a Kawashima operation (median age, 8.6 months; median weight, 7.4 kg): 12 (4.7%), 0 to <4 months; 96 (37.9%), 4 to <8 months; 81 (32.0%), 8 to <12 months; and 64 (25.3%), >12 months. Operative mortality was 0.8% (n = 2), with major morbidity or mortality in 17.4% (n = 44), neither different across age groups. Patients <4 months had a longer postoperative length of stay (12.5 vs 9.3 days; P = .03). The Kawashima was not the index operation of the hospital admission in 15 (5.9%); these patients were younger (6.0 vs 8.4 months; P = .05) and had more preoperative risk factors (13/15 [92.9%] vs 126/238 [52.9%]; P < .01). We identified 173 patients undergoing subsequent hepatic vein incorporation (median age, 3.9 years; median weight, 15.0 kg) with operative mortality in 6 (3.5%) and major morbidity or mortality in 30 (17.3%). ConclusionsThe Kawashima is typically performed between 4 and 12 months with low mortality. Morbidity and mortality were not affected by age. Hepatic vein incorporations may be higher risk than in traditional Fontan procedures, and ways to mitigate this should be sought.

Predictors of anesthesia ready time: Analysis and benchmark data

ObjectivePatients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery require induction of anesthesia. Our objective was to identify the median anesthesia ready time and the predictors of this time. MethodsBy using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database, we identified patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass procedures from 2017 to 2021. Univariate and multivariable regression modeling to predict the anesthesia ready time was performed using mixed-effects linear regression. ResultsAfter exclusion of outliers, 44,418 cases were analyzed. The median anesthesia ready time was 51 minutes (interquartile range, 38-66). On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of a longer anesthesia ready time included decreasing weight (0.3 min/10 kg, 95% CI, 0.1-0.6; P = .011), prematurity (1.5 minutes, 95% CI, 0.8-2.2; P < .001), and presence of chromosomal abnormality (3.4 minutes, 95% CI, 1.5-5.2; P < .001). An increase in the duration in anesthesia ready time was seen with increasing Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery mortality category with an additional 7.8 minutes (95% CI, 5.2-10.4; P < .001) for a Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery 5 procedure compared with Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery 1. Emergency versus elective case designation was associated with an anesthesia ready time reduction of 3.6 minutes (95% CI, 1.1-6.1; P = .005), and an afternoon case start was associated with an anesthesia ready time reduction of 4.2 minutes (95% CI, 2.8-5.6; P < .001). The presence of an anesthesia trainee increased the anesthesia ready time by 3.8 minutes (95% CI, 2.6-5.0; P < .001). The presence of an airway in situ decreased the anesthesia ready time by 3.6 minutes (95% CI, 1.6-5.5; P < .001), whereas an in situ arterial line decreased the anesthesia ready time by 7.4 minutes (95% CI, 4.6-10.2; P < .001). Placement of a central venous line increased the anesthesia ready time by 8.5 minutes (95% CI, 5.9-11.1; P < .001). ConclusionsThe median anesthesia ready time was 51 minutes. For patients with characteristics associated with prolonged anesthesia ready time, consideration should be given to allocation of additional anesthesia staffing to improve efficiency.

Impact of Prenatal Diagnosis of Critical Congenital Heart Disease on Preoperative and Postoperative Outcomes.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of prenatal diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease (CHD) to preoperative and postoperative patient findings. Retrospective analysis of neonates with critical CHD who underwent cardiothoracic surgery at one of four centers in North Carolina between 2008 and 2013. Surgical data collected by sites for submission to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) and the North Carolina CHD Lifespan Database were queried. There were 715 patients with STS records; 558 linked to the NC-CHD database. Patients with prenatal diagnosis had a lower incidence of preoperative risk factors, including need for mechanical ventilation and presence of shock. However, prenatally diagnosed patients had worse short-term outcomes, including higher operative mortality, higher incidence of select postoperative complications, and longer LOS. There was no difference in one-year mortality. Our findings are consistent with current literature which suggests that prenatal diagnosis of critical CHD is associated with a more optimized preoperative clinical status. However, we found that patients with prenatal diagnoses had less favorable postoperative outcomes. This needs to be investigated further, but may be secondary to patient-specific factors, such as CHD disease severity.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database: 2022 Update on Outcomes and Research

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database continues to be one of the most comprehensive clinical outcomes registries capturing almost all pediatric cardiothoracic surgical operations undertaken in the United States. The latest analysis of aggregate outcomes was performed after the 33rd data harvest and included congenital and pediatric cardiac operations performed between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2021. This article summarizes these contemporary outcomes and provides a context for the interpretation of these outcomes. In addition this article describes ongoing efforts to improve data collection and augment analytical approaches. Finally, research activities undertaken in the last year using data from the database are also summarized.

Methylprednisolone for Heart Surgery in Infants — A Randomized, Controlled Trial

BackgroundAlthough perioperative prophylactic glucocorticoids have been used for decades, whether they improve outcomes in infants after heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is unknown.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, registry-based trial involving infants (<1 year of age) undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at 24 sites participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database. Registry data were used in the evaluation of outcomes. The infants were randomly assigned to receive prophylactic methylprednisolone (30 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo, which was administered into the cardiopulmonary-bypass pump-priming fluid. The primary end point was a ranked composite of death, heart transplantation, or any of 13 major complications. Patients without any of these events were assigned a ranked outcome based on postoperative length of stay. In the primary analysis, the ranked outcomes were compared between the trial groups with the use of odds ratios adjusted for prespecified risk factors. Secondary analyses included an unadjusted odds ratio, a win ratio, and safety outcomes.ResultsA total of 1263 infants underwent randomization, of whom 1200 received either methylprednisolone (599 infants) or placebo (601 infants). The likelihood of a worse outcome did not differ significantly between the methylprednisolone group and the placebo group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 1.05; P=0.14). Secondary analyses (unadjusted for risk factors) showed an odds ratio for a worse outcome of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.67 to 1.00) and a win ratio of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.32) in the methylprednisolone group as compared with the placebo group, findings suggestive of a benefit with methylprednisolone; however, patients in the methylprednisolone group were more likely than those in the placebo group to receive postoperative insulin for hyperglycemia (19.0% vs. 6.7%, P<0.001).ConclusionsAmong infants undergoing surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, prophylactic use of methylprednisolone did not significantly reduce the likelihood of a worse outcome in an adjusted analysis and was associated with postoperative development of hyperglycemia warranting insulin in a higher percentage of infants than placebo. (Funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and others; STRESS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03229538.)

Abstract 12623: Association Between Past and Present Operative Mortality in Congenital Heart Surgery

Introduction: Operative mortality following congenital heart surgery is a foundational metric used across a variety of benchmarking, quality improvement, and public reporting initiatives. All of these efforts rely on mortality estimates reported from prior years, and it is unclear how well these reflect current outcomes. Methods: Adjusted operative mortality among Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database index operations (2014-2019) was analyzed using standard risk-models. The association of mortality in “past” 4- and 1-year time intervals vs. the most recent year in the dataset (“present”) was evaluated using Bayesian hierarchical logistic regression. Estimates and 95% credible intervals (CrI) are presented. Results: Among 115,699 operations (106 hospitals) present observed mortality ranged from 2.3%-3.1% across quartiles, with regression to the mean evident more so vs. past 1-year than past 4-year data. Odds of present mortality were 2.04 (95%CrI 1.44-2.80) times higher for those in the past worst vs. best 4-year mortality quartile; no significant association was observed for the middle quartiles. The proportion of present hospital mortality variation explained by past mortality quartile was 52% (95%CrI 20%-90%) using past 4-year and 27% (95%CrI 2%-83%) using past 1-year data. Overall 66% of hospitals changed mortality quartiles from past to present (30% by 2 or more quartiles), with lower volume hospitals most impacted. Conclusions: Past mortality relates to present mortality primarily for groups of hospitals at the extremes, with past 4-year more informative than past 1-year data. However when considering individual hospitals, past may differ from present, regression to the mean is common, and many hospitals change quartiles. Past mortality estimates should be used thoughtfully and not as the sole factor informing present decision making.

Predictors of increased postoperative length of stay after complete atrioventricular canal repair.

The optimal timing of surgical repair for infants with complete atrioventricular canal defect remains controversial, as there are risks to both early and late repair. We address this debate by investigating the association of various risk factors, including age and weight at surgery, markers of failure to thrive, and pulmonary vascular disease, with postoperative length of stay following complete atrioventricular canal repair. Infants who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular canal were identified from our institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database. Additional clinical data were collected from the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistics were computed. Associations between postoperative length of stay and covariates of interest were evaluated using linear regression with bootstrap aggregation. From 2001 to 2020, 150 infants underwent isolated complete atrioventricular canal repair at our institution. Pre-operative failure to thrive and evidence of pulmonary disease were common. Surgical mortality was 2%. In univariable analysis, neither weight nor age at surgery were associated with mortality, postoperative length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or post-operative severe valvular regurgitation. In multivariable analysis of demographic and preoperative clinical factors using bootstrap aggregation, increased postoperative length of stay was only significantly associated with previous pulmonary artery banding (33.9 day increase, p = 0.03) and preoperative use of supplemental oxygen (19.9 day increase, p = 0.03). Our analysis shows that previous pulmonary artery banding and preoperative use of supplemental oxygen were associated with increased postoperative length of stay after complete atrioventricular canal repair, whereas age and weight were not. These findings suggest operation prior to the onset of pulmonary involvement may be more important than reaching age or weight thresholds.

Variation in Case-Mix Across Hospitals: Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database

BackgroundThe Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database was queried to document variation of patient characteristics, procedure types, and programmatic case-mix. MethodsAll index cardiac operations in patients less than 18 years of age in the STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database (July 2016 to June 2020) were eligible for inclusion except patients weighing ≤2.5 kg undergoing isolated patent ductus arteriosus closure. At the hospital level, we describe variations in patient and procedural characteristics known from previous analyses to be associated with outcomes. We also report variations across hospitals of programmatic case-mix. ResultsData were analyzed from 117 sites (90 322 total operations, 87 296 total index cardiac operations eligible for STAT [STS-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery] 2020 Mortality Score). The median annual total index cardiac operations eligible for STAT 2020 Mortality Score per hospital was 157 (interquartile range [IQR], 94-276). Wide variability was documented in total annual index cardiac operations eligible for STAT 2020 Mortality Score per hospital (ratio 90th/10th percentile = 9.01), operations in neonates weighing <2.5 kg (ratio 90th/10th percentile = 4.09), operations in patients with noncardiac anatomic abnormalities (ratio 90th/10th percentile = 3.46), and operations in patients with preoperative mechanical ventilation (ratio 90th/10th percentile = 3.97). At the hospital level, the median percentage of all index cardiac operations in STAT 2020 Mortality Category 5 was 3.7% (IQR, 1.7%-4.9%), the median percentage of all index cardiac operations in STAT 2020 Mortality Category 4 or 5 was 24.4% (IQR, 19.0%-28.4%), the median hospital-specific mean STAT Mortality Category was 2.39 (IQR, 2.20-2.47), and the median hospital-specific mean STAT Mortality Score was 0.86 (IQR, 0.73-0.91). ConclusionsSubstantial variation of patient characteristics, procedure types, and case-mix exists across pediatric and congenital cardiac surgical programs. Knowledge about programmatic case-mix augments data about indirectly standardized programmatic observed-to-expected (O/E) mortality. Indirectly standardized O/E ratios do not provide a complete description of a given pediatric and congenital cardiac surgical program. The indirectly standardized programmatic O/E ratios associated with a given program apply only to its specific case-mix of patients and may represent a quite different case-mix than that of another program.

Lessons learned from linking two complementary databases: the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database and The Vermont Oxford Network Expanded Database.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database and the Vermont Oxford Network Expanded Database are both large, international, well-established quality and outcomes databases with high penetration in their respective fields of congenital heart surgery and neonatology. Previous studies have shown the value of combining large databases for research purposes. Our aim was to examine the feasibility and value of combining these databases on a local level.We included patients from both databases, cared for at our centre and born from 2015-2020, who had cardiac surgery as neonates or during the birth hospitalisation. We examined the number of patients from each database and overlap between the two. We compared cardiac diagnoses, surgeries performed, pre-operative factors, mortality, and length of stay between databases.Of the 255 patients meeting criteria, 209 (81.9%) had records in both databases. The most common diagnoses in both were hypoplastic left heart syndrome, coarctation, and transposition of the great arteries. Surgical data were incompletely recorded in Vermont Oxford. Gestational age, birth weight, multiple gestation, mortality, and length of stay did not differ significantly between the databases, while the percentage of patients with an extracardiac malformation or genetic syndrome recorded was higher in the Society for Thoracic Surgeons group.Larger-scale matching and comparison studies using these databases are feasible and desirable; for some variables, a record with data from both databases may be more complete. Specific attention should be given to inclusion criteria, reconciling different schema of diagnoses, and formulating questions relying on each database's relative strengths.

Ross Procedure in Children: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database Analysis

BackgroundSingle-center studies have demonstrated excellent results for the Ross procedure in children. We aimed to evaluate national variation in clinical outcomes using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database. MethodsThe database was used to identify 2805 children undergoing the Ross procedure from 2000 through 2018, comprising 163 neonates (<30 days, 5.8%), 448 infants (30-365 days, 16.0%), 1444 children (1-12 years, 51.5%), and 750 teenagers (13-17 years, 26.7%). Centers were divided into terciles by procedural volume. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of a composite outcome of operative mortality, neurologic deficit, or renal failure requiring dialysis. ResultsNeonates and infants were more likely to present with aortic stenosis than children and teenagers (61.7% [n = 377] vs 34.6% [n = 760]; P < .01) and have risk factors including preoperative shock (9.2% [n = 56] vs 0.4% [n = 8]; P < .01). Operative mortality was 24.1% (n = 39) in neonates, 11.2% (n = 50) in infants, 1.5% (n = 21) in children , and 0.8% (n = 6) in teenagers (P < .01). Independent predictors of the composite outcome in children aged <1 year included neonatal age (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% CI, 1.9-4.8), low-volume center (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-3.9), and procedure year (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9 per 5 years). In children aged ≥1 year, no association was found between center volume, procedure year, and outcome. ConclusionsThe Ross procedure is being performed with low mortality in children aged ≥1 year throughout North America. High-volume centers have improved outcomes in children aged <1 year, who have different anatomic characteristics and risk profiles.

A mapping algorithm for International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes for congenital heart surgery benchmark procedures.

Administrative billing data are critical to many initiatives in congenital heart surgery. Mapping algorithms for International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision diagnosis and procedure codes to clinical registry procedure definitions will allow identification of surgical cases and account for patient and procedural factors within administrative data. Our objectives were to develop mapping logic to crosswalk International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision procedure codes to 10 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database benchmark and beta-test the algorithm. Patients undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database benchmark procedures from 2015 to 2019 were identified and served as the gold standard. Cases were linked on direct identifiers to cases from the Pediatric Health Information System Database. Two independent teams developed International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision-based algorithms for cases capture. Algorithms were compared and iteratively refined to optimize sensitivity and specificity. Operative mortalities for cases identified in the administrative versus registry data were compared. Overall sensitivity was 91% and specificity was 99% for capture of benchmark operations using International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes. Sensitivity was more than 90% in identifying 6 of the 10 individual benchmark procedures and more than 98% sensitive in identifying Fontan, Glenn, and arterial switch with ventricular septal defect procedures. Specificity was more than 98% for all benchmark operations. There were no statistical differences in operative mortality between cases identified in the administrative versus the registry data. Novel mapping algorithm for International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision procedure codes enables identification of congenital heart benchmark procedures within administrative billing data. This crosswalk facilitates population-based congenital heart surgical research and quality assessment.

Outcomes of Patients With Sickle Cell Disease and Trait After Congenital Heart Disease Surgery

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy that can cause multiorgan dysfunction. This study assessed the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing operations for congenital heart disease who had SCD or sickle cell trait (SCT). MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of patients with SCD or SCT who had records in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database between 2014 and 2019. The primary outcome was operative mortality. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed between the SCD and SCT groups and the control group for further analysis. ResultsOur study population consisted of 73, 411, and 36 501 patients in the SCD, SCT, and control groups, respectively. Median (25%-75% interquartile range) age at surgery was 2.8 (0.4-9.7), 0.60 (0.2-3.1), and 0.70 (0.2-6.4) years in the SCD, SCT, and control cohorts, respectively. Operative mortality, surgery duration, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and cross-clamp time were not significantly different among the 3 groups. The SCD group had a higher rate of postsurgical cardiac arrest than its propensity score-matched control group (5.5% vs 0%, P < .05); otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in the outcomes between the SCD and SCT groups and their respective matched control groups. ConclusionsOperative mortality after cardiothoracic procedures in patients with SCD or SCT appeared similar to our control patients. While these patients may require unique perioperative management, they can undergo cardiac surgery without an observed increase in mortality.