Scoring Systems for Risk Stratification in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Cardiac surgery is associated with significant mortality rates. Careful selection of surgical candidates is, therefore, vital to optimize morbidity and mortality outcomes. Risk scores can be used to inform this decision-making process. The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation Score and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score are among the most commonly used risk scores. There are many other scoring systems in existence; however, no perfect scoring system exists, therefore, additional research is needed as clinicians strive toward a more idealized risk stratification model. The purpose of this review is to discuss the advantages and limitations of some of the most commonly used risk stratification systems and use this to determine what an ideal scoring system might look like. This includes not only the generalizability of available scores but also their ease of use and predictive power.

Keywords: cardiac surgery; morbidity; mortality; risk score; risk stratification; scoring system.