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Study Shows Zero Percent Mortality for PBRMC Heart Surgery The Society of Thoracic Surgeons recently released data relating to operative mortality rates of cardiovascular programs in more than 780 hospitals nationwide, including Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center (PBRMC). This study’s database, which was created in 1990, is the largest and most comprehensive study of heart surgery patients in the world. The results of this study show that patients who have had Coronary Bypass Surgery at PBRMC have better outcomes compared to national averages, including a zero percent operative mortality rate compared to almost two percent nationally. All other complications after surgery at PBRMC, including postoperative infections, neurologic complications, renal failure and atrial fibrillation, were also found to be lower than national averages. The latest data release includes results from the time period of June 2007 through April of 2009. The study measures the quality of a heart surgery program through review of operative mortality, which means death up to 30 days after surgery, and adjusted morbidity, which means complications after surgery. Risk adjustments are also taken into account by considering a patient’s risk factors and health problems. This type of measurement allows for a valid comparison between hospitals regardless of differences in the severity of heart disease treated among participating hospitals. The results show that before surgery, patients who had Coronary Bypass Surgery at PBRMC were HealtHY liFeStYleS sicker and at a higher risk for death and complications in comparison to national averages. Several factors were identified in contributing to these higher risks, including high percentages of current smokers, diabetes, morbid obesity and cadiogenic shock. <strong>Dr</strong>. Stanley Ziomek, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at PBRMC, links three reasons to why PBRMC’s heart program yields these excellent outcomes. First, the door-to-balloon time, which refers to the interval from patient’s arrival to inflation of the balloon catheter within the patient’s blocked artery, is far less than the national goal of 90 minutes. “Second, the intensive care and progressive care nursing units are very good at PBRMC. The nurses on these units are specially trained and experienced in caring for patients after heart surgery,” says Ziomek. Third, the results of the study show that beating heart surgery was performed 67 percent of the time at PBRMC compared to only 21 percent nationally. Beating heart surgery is one of the newest advancements in heart surgery and offers patients better outcomes and quicker recoveries compared to traditional coronary bypass surgery. “Our goal is to continue bringing clinical excellence home to our communities. Based on these independent results, we can without a doubt say that heart surgery at PBRMC is just as good, and in many cases better, compared to anywhere in the nation,” said Ziomek. www.<strong>SEMO</strong>HOMESANDREALESTATE.com Page 25 573 Homes and lifestyles Page 23
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