Application of RACHS and Aristotle’s scales for surgical mortality in congenital heart disease

Manuel Gil-Vargas, Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica, Hospital para la Niñez Poblana, Servicios de Salud IMSS Bienestar, Puebla, Pue., México
Carlos R. Tijerina-Treviño, Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica, Hospital para la Niñez Poblana, Servicios de Salud IMSS Bienestar, Puebla, Pue., México
Hanya L. García-Escalante, Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Pue., México

Background: Risk stratification using the RACHS-1 and Aristotle scales is essential for assessing surgical mortality in congenital heart disease and establishing improvements in the quality of care. Objective: To apply the RACHS and basic Aristotle scales for surgical mortality in congenital heart disease at a tertiary care hospital. Method: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and retrospective study of 387 records of pediatric patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, at a pediatric hospital. Results: In 387 records, 198 (49%) were male and 189 (51%) were female. The procedures performed included closure of the ductus arteriosus, closure of ventricular septal defect, pulmonary artery banding, correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and closure of atrial septal defect. Conclusion: The application of the RACHS-1 and Aristotle scales is useful for evaluating our results, which are far from those of developed countries but close to those reported in Latin America and Mexico. The use of these scales helps establish measures to improve postoperative outcomes.

Keywords: RACHS-1. Aristotle. Surgical mortality. Congenital heart disease.