Cardiac Surgery in Germany during 2001: A Report by the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

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Abstract
This is the annual summary of cardiac surgery performed in 76 + 4 units of Germany during 2001. In 1978, the Society decided to set up a cardiac surgical register for the Federal Republic of Germany. For this purpose, our annual questionnaire dealt with a number of details including the hospital mortality rates for the more conventional cardiac procedures performed. The aims of the register were twofold: To demonstrate development in and emphasis of cardiac surgery throughout Germany over the years; To enable cardiac surgeons to compare the work of their unit with that of others by providing a nationwide standard. For the year 2001, all 76 + 4 units replied to the detailed questionnaire. All units replied with hospital mortality rates with one exception. Thus, the committee now presents the 24th annual summary of cardiac surgery, representing the total case load in Germany [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]. Mean hospital mortality rates for the frequently performed cardiac procedures are described for all 76 + 4 units. The detailed results of one clinic with a case load of more than 1,200 open-heart procedures without pediatric and transplant surgery are estimated with the results of the last year and the average figures as a basis. A number of rare procedures are not listed, especially in the congenital lesions category. No differentiation was made relating to the preoperative clinical state of the patients. The committee believes the results presented in the following tables are self-explanatory and important enough to make continuation of this effort worthwhile. Register 2001: Table [ 1 ] demonstrates the development of open-heart surgery in this country over the past 23 years. The distribution of all cardiac surgical procedures performed in 2001 is shown in Tables [ 2 ] - [ 4 ]. Tables [ R1 ] - [ R8c ] represent a breakdown of the results of surgery according to categories of operations performed. Note that all figures with the exception of those in Table [ 1 ] represent the current situation in Germany and are therefore not strictly comparable with those of previous years, especially before Reunification in 1990.

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