Meaningful risk-adjusted infection rates for bypass surgery (heart) are currently available from 7 Swiss hospitals for the current period. A total of 1,235 patients were followed in these hospitals. The average hospital infection rate for bypass surgery is 2.7%.
Cardiocentro Ticino (CCT), Lugano has the lowest risk-adjusted infection rate for bypass surgery (1.0% hospital-acquired infections). In German-speaking Switzerland, the Luzerner Kantonsspital, LUKS (Standort Kantonsspital Luzern) has the lowest risk-adjusted infection rate for bypass surgery. The highest infection rate observed in a hospital for bypass surgery is 4.0%.
Coronary bypass surgery is the most frequently performed procedure in cardiac surgery. It is used for advanced narrowing of the coronary arteries to restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Usually, the patient's own vessels (veins or arteries) are used as a bypass graft. As part of highly specialized medicine (HSM), these procedures are performed only at specialized centers with high levels of routine. Despite being a routine procedure, specific risks such as stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, or temporary heart failure after surgery exist.
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).
My father (78) was advised to undergo a double bypass operation on his heart. He and his relatives were told that it was a routine operation. He died 2 days after the operation from septic shock/multiple organ failure. In less than 3 weeks he would have become a grandfather....
About the surgery:
Bypass surgery, father died in the hospital 2 days after the operation.
transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jun.2023, date of rating: 21.06.2023
As a patient you feel very safe and in good hands here. Very good, clarifying preliminary information session that even a layman can understand.
The nursing staff was also very competent, sensitive, considerate and very friendly. On every shift, the staff knew about every patient. Kudos
About the surgery:
Triple bypass surgery, not an emergency but urgently needed. (surgeon: Dr. Achim Häussler)
transl. from german, inpatient treatment in May.2021, date of rating: 16.05.2022
The data on this page was last updated on March 16, 2026.
3.8
