Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 110-116, January 2000

Databases for congenital heart disease: A beginner's guide☆

Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London; the Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics and its Applications, University College London, London; and CoMPLEX (Centre for Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology), University College London, London, UK

Abstract 

We discuss the reasons for collecting data on operations for congenital heart defects. Computerized databases facilitate the collection, storage, and retrieval of such data. We outline the basic criteria for selecting a suitable database to cater to the particular needs of a surgeon or a department and stress the importance of the accuracy of the data held in a database. We explain the relative advantage of simple versus complex database systems. We conclude with a summary of the steps required for a practicing congenital heart surgeon to set up and operate a simple database. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company

Keywords:  Congenital heart defects, surgery, database, validation, accuracy

 

☆ Address reprint requests to J.F. Stark, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Institute of Child Health, University College London, Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK.

PII: S1092-9126(00)70010-X

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 110-116, January 2000

Article Tools