title: Current status of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After utilizing separate congenital databases in the early 1990s, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) collaborated on several joint database initiatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1998, the joint EACTS-STS International Congenital Heart Surgery Nomenclature and Database Project Committee was created and a common nomenclature and common core minimum database dataset were adopted and published by the STS and the EACTS. In 1999, the joint EACTS-STS Aristotle Committee was created and the Aristotle Score was adopted and published as a method to provide complexity adjustment for congenital heart surgery. Collaborative efforts involving the EACTS and STS are underway to develop mechanisms to verify data completeness and accuracy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since 1998, this nomenclature, database, and methodology of complexity adjustment have been used by both the STS and EACTS to analyze outcomes of over 40,000 patients. A huge amount of data have been generated which allow comparison of practice patterns and outcomes analysis between Europe and North America. The aggregate data from the first 5 years of data collection not only make for interesting comparison but also allow examination of regional difference in practice patterns. For example, in the EACTS, out of 4,273 neonates, 885 (20.7%) underwent arterial switch procedures and 297 (6.95%) underwent Norwood stage 1 procedures. In the STS, out of 3,988 neonates, 472 (11.8%) underwent arterial switch procedures and 575 (14.4%) underwent Norwood stage 1 procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis of the EACTS-STS multi-institutional outcomes database confirms that in both Europe and North America, case complexity and mortality is highest among neonates, then infants, and then children. Regional differences in practice patterns are demonstrated, with the overall goal being the continued upgrade in the quality of surgery for congenital heart disease worldwide.
authors.affiliation: The Congenital Heart Institute of Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA. jeffjacobs@msn.com
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Marshall L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Bohdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maruszewski
authors.forename: François G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Lacour-Gayet
authors.forename: David Robinson
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Christo I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Tchervenkov
authors.forename: J William
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gaynor
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Spray
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stellin
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Tjark
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebels
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mavroudis
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D005060:Europe; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012955:Societies, Medical; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures