STS Score Calculator 2026
⚕️ Medical Professional Tool
This is an educational calculator for healthcare professionals to estimate cardiac surgery risk. This tool is NOT a substitute for professional medical judgment. Always consult with a qualified cardiac surgeon and multidisciplinary heart team for actual patient care decisions.
🏥 Cardiac Surgery Risk Assessment
📋 Patient Risk Factors
Enter patient information to calculate operative risk
Demographics
Cardiac Function
Comorbidities
Surgical History
Procedure Type
1. About the STS Risk Score
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Risk Score is a validated predictive model that estimates the risk of operative mortality and morbidity for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Key Features:
- Based on data from over 8 million cardiac surgeries
- Continuously updated with contemporary data
- Validated across diverse patient populations
- Used for informed consent and clinical decision-making
- Benchmark for quality assessment and public reporting
2. STS Risk Model Formula
General Logistic Regression Model
\[\text{Risk} = \frac{1}{1 + e^{-\text{logit}}}\] \[\text{logit} = \beta_0 + \beta_1X_1 + \beta_2X_2 + ... + \beta_nX_n\]Where:
- \(\beta_0\) = Intercept coefficient
- \(\beta_i\) = Coefficient for each risk factor
- \(X_i\) = Individual risk factors (age, EF, comorbidities, etc.)
- \(n\) = Number of risk factors (typically 40+)
3. Major Risk Factors in STS Model
| Category | Risk Factors | Impact Level |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | Age, Gender, BMI, BSA | Moderate |
| Cardiac Status | Ejection Fraction, NYHA Class, Angina | High |
| Comorbidities | Diabetes, Hypertension, COPD, PVD | Moderate-High |
| Renal Function | Creatinine, Dialysis, Renal Failure | Very High |
| Surgical History | Prior Cardiac Surgery, Prior PCI | High |
| Urgency | Elective, Urgent, Emergency, Salvage | Very High |
| Procedure | Surgery Type and Complexity | High |
4. Risk Stratification Categories
| Risk Category | Mortality Risk | Clinical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Low Risk | < 1% | Excellent surgical candidate |
| Low-Moderate Risk | 1-3% | Good surgical candidate |
| Moderate Risk | 3-5% | Benefits likely outweigh risks |
| Moderate-High Risk | 5-10% | Careful consideration needed |
| High Risk | > 10% | Consider alternatives |
5. Common Cardiac Surgery Procedures
Procedures Assessed by STS Calculator:
- CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (isolated)
- AVR: Aortic Valve Replacement (surgical or TAVR)
- MVR: Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement
- TVR: Tricuspid Valve Repair or Replacement
- Multiple Valve Surgery: Two or more valve procedures
- CABG + Valve: Combined coronary and valve surgery
- Aortic Surgery: Ascending aorta, root, or arch procedures
6. STS 2026 Updates
Latest Enhancements
- ✅ AI-enhanced predictive algorithms
- ✅ Mobile-friendly interface for bedside use
- ✅ Real-time risk calculation with contemporary data
- ✅ Expanded procedure coverage (aortic surgery models added)
- ✅ Integration with electronic health records
- ✅ Quarterly model updates with latest data
- ✅ Long-term outcome predictions (5-year mortality)
- ✅ Quality of life outcome predictions
7. Clinical Applications
Uses in Clinical Practice:
- Informed Consent: Provide patients realistic risk estimates
- Treatment Selection: Choose between surgical and non-surgical options
- Quality Improvement: Benchmark institutional performance
- Research: Risk adjustment in clinical trials
- Resource Allocation: Identify high-risk patients for intensive care
- Public Reporting: Transparent outcome reporting
8. Limitations and Considerations
⚠️ Important Limitations
- Risk scores are estimates, not certainties
- Individual outcomes may vary significantly
- Models based on population averages
- Cannot capture all individual patient factors
- Surgeon and hospital experience also matter
- Scores should guide, not dictate, clinical decisions
- Always use official STS calculator for actual patient care
9. Official STS Resources
For Healthcare Professionals:
- Official STS Risk Calculator: riskcalc.sts.org
- STS Database: Information on quality benchmarks and data submission
- Mobile App: Available for iOS and Android
- Training Materials: Videos and guides for calculator use
- Research Publications: Methodology and validation studies
💡 2026 Professional Note
The STS Risk Calculator remains the gold standard for cardiac surgery risk assessment. It represents decades of data collection and statistical refinement from millions of procedures. Always use the official calculator at riskcalc.sts.org for actual clinical decision-making. This educational tool demonstrates the principles but should never replace the validated official calculator.
🚨 Critical Disclaimer
This calculator is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. It is a simplified demonstration and NOT validated for clinical use. Do NOT use this tool for actual patient care decisions. Healthcare professionals must use the official STS Risk Calculator available at riskcalc.sts.org, which incorporates the complete validated statistical models and full set of risk variables.