Complexity Scoring to Benchmark Surgical Performance

from Practice Update, Winter 2004

With the arrival of Dr. Lacour-Gayet, the Division of Surgery at The Children’s Hospital has become involved with the international movement to develop a new evaluation tool for surgical performance. A collaborative effort among congenital heart surgeons and scientific societies across the globe has introduced complexity scoring. Because this benchmarking system provides a precise risk-adjusted comparison of surgical performance, it is particularly effective in evaluating complex pathologies.

The complexity of a procedure has been quantified by a group of international experts representing 50 prominent international centers. Complexity is determined by assessing operative mortality, morbidity and difficulty of surgical technique.

In the process of developing a practical formula for assessing surgical performance, the international physician group is also working to standardize nomenclature throughout the world and create an international registry database.

Complexity scoring will aid surgeons in preoperative patient evaluation, assessing protocols and improving outcomes based on the complexity of the patients treated. Complexity scoring will broaden our ability to share data. By combining statistical analysis with the knowledge and experience gained in the operating room, we can expedite medical progress and improve outcomes for our young patients.