Do league tables tell me if my hospital has a good record of coronary artery bypass surgery?
In the UK 98 out of every 100 patients undergoing CABG for the first time will leave hospital alive, this is referred to as a mortality of 2%. The League Tables, which are not risk-stratified by any internationally accepted criteria, and the Society figures both quote average operative mortalities. As a patient you are an individual and not a statistical figure and it is wrong to assume that the mortality figure quoted for your unit will apply to you. Indeed, the hospital with the higher mortality when compared to the national average, may well have a better record when looked at in detail (see above). If you are concerned about the figures published for your local hospital then ask the hospital or even better ask your consultant surgeon.
