EVALUATION OF CONGENITAL HEART SURGERY RESULTS BY MEANS OF "ARISTOTLE SCORE"

Aim. To analyze the results of applying the "Aristotle score" scale for estimating the quality of pediatric cardiac surgery. Material and Methods. The results of surgical activity in "Ukrainian Children Cardiac Center" were evaluated by means of "Aristotle score" scale for the periods from 2002 till 2004 and from 2012 till 2014. The surgical results of leading surgeons in 2013 were evaluated as well. In total, "Aristotle score" was calculated for 5390 surgical procedures for congenital heart diseases. "Aristotle Performance Index" was calculated as multiplication of mean "Aristotle score" and percentage of survived patients. Results and Discussion. According to analysis, "Aristotle Performance Index" increased in 2012-2014 compared to 2002-2004 period: 2002y. - 5,83, 2003y. - 5,56, 2004y. - 5,73, 2012y. - 6,13, 2013y. - 6,40, 2014y. - 6,39. The increase of "Aristotle Performance Index" is explained by increasing of the complexity of surgical procedures ("Aristotle score") and by decreasing the surgical mortality. Surgical mortality was 6,6% in 2002, 7,8% in 2003, 6,5% in 2004, 1,4% in 2012, 1,2% in 2013, 1,0% in 2014. The surgical results of leading surgeons in 2013 were analyzed: mortality ranged from 0% to 4,7% and "Aristotle Performance Index" - from 5,52 to 8,32. "Aristotle Performance Index" had high correlation with "Aristotle score" (0,86, ð=0,026), but no correlation with surgical mortality (0,14, ð=0,78). Conclusion. "Aristotle score" is used for objective evaluation of the complexity of the procedures for congenital heart diseases. "Aristotle Performance Index" may be used for the evaluating of surgical performance of one surgeon or a group of surgeons. These two criteria proved to be helpful for objective evaluation of pediatric cardiac surgery service. Key words: "Aristotle score", "Aristotle Performance Index"