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2 results

  • An Alternative Scoring System to Predict Risk for Surgical Site Infection Complicating Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
  • N. Deborah Friedman, Ann L. Bull, Philip L. Russo, Karin Leder, Christopher Reid, Baki Billah, Silvana Marasco, Emma McBryde, Michael J. Richards
  • Journal: Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 28 / Issue 10 / October 2007
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2015, pp. 1162-1168
  • Print publication: October 2007
  • View abstract
    Objective.

    To analyze the risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) complicating coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and to create an alternative SSI risk score based on the results of multivariate analysis.

    Methods.

    A prospective cohort study involving inpatient and laboratory-based surveillance of patients who underwent CABG surgery over a 27-month period from January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2005. Data were obtained from 6 acute care hospitals in Victoria, Australia, that contributed surveillance data for SSI complicating CABG surgery to the Victorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System Coordinating Centre and the Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons, also in Victoria.

    Results.

    A total of 4,633 (93%) of the 4,987 patients who underwent CABG surgery during this period were matched in the 2 systems databases. There were 286 SSIs and 62 deep or organ space sternal SSIs (deep or organ space sternal SSI rate, 1.33%). Univariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus, body mass index (BMI) greater than 35, and receipt of blood transfusion were risk factors for all types of SSI complicating CABG surgery. Six multivariate analysis models were created to examine either preoperative factors alone or preoperative factors combined with operative factors. All models revealed diabetes and BMI of 30 or greater as risk factors for SSI complicating CABG surgery. A new preoperative scoring system was devised to predict sternal SSI, which assigned 1 point for diabetes, 1 point for BMI of 30 or greater but less than 35, and 2 points for BMI of 35 or greater. Each point in the scoring system represented approximately a doubling of risk of SSI. The new scoring system performed better than the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (NNIS) risk index at predicting SSI.

    Conclusion.

    A new weighted scoring system based on preoperative risk factors was created to predict sternal SSI risk following CABG surgery. The new scoring system outperformed the NNIS risk index. Future studies are needed to validate this scoring system.

  • 13 - Is the reporting of an individual surgeon's clinical performance doing more harm than good for patient care?
  • Edited by Steve Clarke, Justin Oakley, Monash University, Victoria
  • Book: Informed Consent and Clinician Accountability
  • Published online: 08 August 2009
  • Print publication: 26 July 2007, pp 197-211
  • View extract

    Summary

    Introduction

    Report cards, also known as league tables, allow publication of outcome data that can reflect the performance of a particular hospital, clinical unit, or an individual doctor. Increasing interest is being focused on clinical report cards, particularly on their use in monitoring the performance of individual doctors and in making that data public. Report cards do have a number of possible roles including self-audit, accountability and to demonstrate safety and industry regulation. Almost 10 per cent of Australia's Gross National Product is devoted to healthcare, so it is an extremely important sector of government (www.aihw.gov.au). Other industries spending this level of tax payers' funds are accountable to the community and it certainly seems appropriate that healthcare is also kept under scrutiny. However, how far should that scrutiny extend and in what form should outcomes be made available to the community? Should the outcomes of individual doctors be made available or should this level of outcome data be retained within the craft groups for self-regulation and audit, leaving unit-based and hospital-based data available for publication and dissemination to the public. What other industries are subject to public distribution of the results of individuals within that industry?

    In this chapter we explore the issue of report cards, specifically with regard to cardiac surgeons, who are currently at the forefront of this debate.