Cardiac surgery in Germany during 2006: a report on behalf of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

All cardiac surgical procedures performed in 81 German cardiac surgical units throughout the year 2006 are presented in this report, based on a voluntary registry which is organized by the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. In 2006 a total of 97,123 cardiac surgical procedures (ICD and pacemakers procedures excluded) have been collected in this registry. More than 9.6 % of the patients were older than 80 years compared to 8.4 % in 2005. Hospital mortality in 51,273 isolated CABG procedures (10.1 % off-pump) was 3.1 %. In 20,028 isolated valve procedures a mortality of 4.9 % has been observed. This registry will continue to be an important tool of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery enabling a continuous and voluntary quality assurance and illustrating the development of cardiac surgery in Germany.