title: Databases for congenital heart disease: A beginner's guide.
abstract: We discuss the reasons for collecting data on operations for congenital heart defects. Computerized databases facilitate the collection, storage, and retrieval of such data. We outline the basic criteria for selecting a suitable database to cater to the particular needs of a surgeon or a department and stress the importance of the accuracy of the data held in a database. We explain the relative advantage of simple versus complex database systems. We conclude with a summary of the steps required for a practicing congenital heart surgeon to set up and operate a simple database. Copyright 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: J. F.
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: J.
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stark