Meaningful risk-adjusted infection rates for heart surgery (all interventions) are currently available from 7 Swiss hospitals for the current period. A total of 2,804 patients were followed in these hospitals. The average hospital infection rate for heart surgery is 2.3%.
Cardiocentro Ticino (CCT), Lugano has the lowest risk-adjusted infection rate for heart surgery (0.5% hospital-acquired infections). In German-speaking Switzerland, the Luzerner Kantonsspital, LUKS (Standort Kantonsspital Luzern) has the lowest risk-adjusted infection rate for heart surgery. One hospital shows significantly worse results for heart surgery (i.e. higher infection rates). The
Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ) has even highly significantly worse results for heart surgery. The highest infection rate observed in a hospital for heart surgery is 3.9%.
Heart surgery is part of highly specialized medicine (HSM) and is performed only at a few specialized centers in Switzerland. The most common procedures involve coronary artery surgery (bypass) and the replacement or repair of heart valves. In many complex cases, access is gained by opening the chest, with a heart-lung machine temporarily taking over circulatory function. However, minimally invasive techniques are increasingly being used, allowing for faster recovery but requiring significant surgical expertise. Hospitals with the corresponding performance mandate generally demonstrate extensive experience and high case volumes.
Measured as the ratio of expected and observed numbers of infections after certain types of surgery.
Strengths:
Infections are risky and associated with more distress. A low infection rate is an indicator of good hygiene and a high quality treatment process. The infection rates are risk adjusted by Swissnoso using three additional measurements. This elaborate form of risk adjustment fulfills high scientific standards.
Limits:
Unfortunately, infection rates are not available for all interventions. It is not sure that results are transferable to similar interventions. Also, infection rates are only meaningful when a sufficient number of cases is reached. Especially with interventions with a low risk of infections the needed number of cases is very high and is only reached by large hospitals. For small hospitals it is often not possible to give a meaningful statement (while small case numbers are per se unfavorable, especially with complex interventions).
Insufficient information. Forced to leave the ICU in a very poor condition after heart surgery, only to be readmitted twice for emergencies. Absolutely unreasonable for the patient. Flat-rate billing says hello.
About the surgery:
Stents after a heart attack in a 92-year-old patient. Inadequate explanation as to whether the intervention is really necessary despite the living will. Patient died after unacceptable discharge and two re-admissions. During the dying process released again into the nursing home, absolutely inhumane. (surgeon: Dr. Nicht Bekannt)
transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jul.2022, date of rating: 07.06.2023
The data on this page was last updated on March 16, 2026.
3.8
