BACKGROUND: In the absence of reliable national data, we have collected results of all operations for @entity4297 from five departments to assess mortality rates and compare them among surgeons and departments. METHODS: Data relating to all operations (2,718) carried out at the five centers during a period from April 1, 1997 through March 31, 1999. Clearly defined criteria were agreed for the classification of @entity1 into various subgroups. RESULTS: The overall hospital mortality was 4.4% (95% confidence intervals 3.7%-5.3%). Mortality for open-operations was 12.6% in neonates, 5.1% in @entity1 , and 3.5% in @entity1 . Mortality rates were 1.1% for @entity1498 , 0.4% @entity1757 , 4.1% @entity474 , 2.9% Fallot, 0.9% switch, and 15.6% truncus arteriosus. Although individual surgeons' mortality rates ranged from 1.8% to 7.5%, none of the 12 surgeons' data were above 95% confidence intervals. For individual surgeons, the change in mortality rates between the 2 years ranged between -3.3% and +3.8%. CONCLUSIONS: With 2 years' data available, estimates of mortality rates are more precise as reflected by tighter confidence intervals. There were relatively small data sets for individual hospitals and surgeons, which made statistical evaluation difficult. For setting standards, data from more departments for a longer period will be required. Statistical methods alone cannot be used as a sole arbiter of what is considered acceptable performance.

Assessment of mortality rates for XXXX and surgeons' performance.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients', 'infants'] @entity1757 :: ('MESH:D006345', 'Disease') :: ['ventricular septal defect'] @entity474 :: ('MESH:C562831', 'Disease') :: ['atrioventricular septal defect'] @entity1498 :: ('MESH:D001017', 'Disease') :: ['coarctation'] @entity4297 :: ('MESH:D006330', 'Disease') :: ['congenital heart defects']
@entity4297 :: (MESH:D006330,Disease) :: ['congenital heart defects']
