Using Vizient database for benchmarking pulmonary resection outcomes

Background: Benchmarking pulmonary resection outcomes is critical for the evaluation of hospital performance and enhancing the quality of patient care. Both the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgical Database (GTSD) provide outcomes after lung resection, but each database had its own limitations. We aimed to determine whether the Vizient database can be used to benchmark lung resection outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of pulmonary resection cases at a single institution using the Vizient dashboard and GTSD. We examined whether all pulmonary resections were captured and if the risks were appropriately measured on the Vizient dashboard. Finally, we compared benchmarking using the Vizient dashboard with that of the GTSD. Results: A total of 184 patients underwent pulmonary resection, all of whom were identified on the Vizient dashboard. Generalized linear modeling showed that the expected length of stay (LOS) was associated with congestive heart failure (P=0.04), pulmonary hypertension (P<0.001), and anatomical resection (P<0.001). Expected mortality was associated with older age (P<0.001), male gender (P<0.001), pulmonary hypertension (P=0.047), and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) (P=0.03). The mean LOS index was 0.63, and the mortality index was 0. The 30-day readmission rate for the surgery was 2.2%. Pulmonary resection outcomes were better than 95% in similar institutions in the Vizient dashboard, whereas the GTSD showed that the program was similar to 89% of the programs in the GTSD. Conclusions: The Vizient dashboard provides a valid measure of outcomes associated with pulmonary resection. The Vizient dashboard provides better benchmarking information than the GTSD. Vizient dashboards can be used to improve surgical outcomes after pulmonary resection.