The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Frequently Asked Questions: General Thoracic Database

Version 2.07

 October, 2006

How to use the “interactive” FAQ Document:

1.  To review all clinical questions in an individual section, click on the section title below.

2.      To review an individual Seq# clinical question, click on the Seq# title below.

Participation in both General Thoracic and Adult Cardiac Databases

GENERAL STATEMENT #2

Seq# 200:   Zubrod Score                                                       Seq# 775:  Postop Events

Seq# 300:   WtLoss3Kg                                                           Seq# 860: Pneumonia

Seq# 310:  Category of disease                                              Seq# 930:  Other Pumonary Event

Seq# 390:  PreOp Chemotherapy                                           Seq# 940:  Atrial Arryhthmia

Seq# 400:  PreOp Thoracic RT                                               Seq# 1020:  Anastomotic leak

Seq# 430:  Other Cormorbidity                                              Seq# 1190:  Empyema

Seq# 540:  Clinical Stage Not Applicable (2.06)                  Seq# 1200:  Other event req. Rx

Seq# 725:  Reoperation                                                          Seq# 1250:  30 Day Status

Seq# 740:  Procedure                                                             Seq# 1280:  Chest Tube Out Date

Seq# 750:  Primary Procedure                   

Seq# 751:  Thoracoscopy Approach

NEW

Date

SeqNo

FieldName

Definition

200

Patient's Zubrod score

The Zubrod performance scale should be marked to indicate the level of the patient's performance measured within two weeks of the surgery date.  The Zubrod performance scale is a measure of the patients function.  Select the one description that best fits the patient.

3/06

If the patient presents with a 1 on the Zubrod scale but their condition declines during the hospitalization to a 3(in the two week window) would you code them as a 3.  

The Intent of Seq #200 Zubrod is to capture the patient's level of performance within 2 weeks of the surgery date. Please code as a value of 1.

3/06

The STS definition of the Zubrod score states "...indicate the level of the patient's performance measured within two weeks of the surgery date..."

For a patient whose function is normal (Zubrod=0) up to the point of hospitialzation then consequently hospitalized (Zubrod score 3) prior to surgery, how should their Zubrod score be documented on the data collection form?

Code the most severe Zubrod score within two weeks of surgery. In the scenario presented, code 3.

210

Surgeon's name

Indicate the surgeon's name.  This field must have controlled data entry where a user selects the SurgeonName from a user list. This will remove variation in spelling, abbreviations and punctuation within the field. Note: Surgeon name is encrypted in the analysis database. Punctuation, abbreviations and spacing differences can not be corrected at the warehouse.

220

Surgeon's UPIN number

Surgeon's UPIN Number.  This value is automatically inserted into the record when the user selects the surgeon.  The list of surgeons and associated UPIN values are maintained by the user.

230

Hospital Name

Indicate he full name of the facility where the procedure was performed.  Values should be full, official hospital names with no abbreviations or variations in spelling for a single hospital.  Values should also be in mixed-case.

240

Hospital code = AHA number

Indicate the Hospital code or AHA number.  Values are automatically inserted into the record when the user selects the hospital name.  The list of hospital names and associated hospital codes are maintained by the user.

245

Hospital postal code

Indicate the ZIP Code of the hospital.  Outside the USA, this data may be known by other names such as "Postal Code".

250

Admission date

Indicate the date of admission.  For those patients who originally enter the hospital in an out-patient capacity (i.e. catheterization), the admit date is the date the patient's status changes to in-patient.

260

Date of surgery

Indicate the date of surgery, which equals the date the patient enters the OR.