National benchmarks exist for few surgical disciplines (the primary exception being cardiac surgery). Similarly, thoracic surgery lacks comprehensive national statistical data. However, some statistics exist for individual procedures. Mortality for lobectomy, a signature operation for any thoracic surgery program, is between 5-6.5% nationally. The same studies indicate a 16% mortality as the national average for esophagectomy. (Surgeon specialty & operative mortality with lung resection. Goodney et al. Ann Surg 2005; 241:179-84,) ( Is surgery getting safer? National trends in operative mortality. Goodney et al. J Am Coll Surg 2002; 195:219-27). We use these data to measure and improve our success.
