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Zurich University Hospital Cardiac Surgery Unit Faces Scathing Report on High Mortality
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Health & Science

Zurich University Hospital Cardiac Surgery Unit Faces Scathing Report on High Mortality

From Le Temps · (8m ago) French Critical tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • An investigative report on Zurich University Hospital's cardiac surgery department reveals a statistically significant excess mortality rate of 68 to 74 deaths between 2016 and 2020.
  • The report, commissioned by the hospital's board, focused on the period when Professor Francesco Maisano led the department and was involved in developing new cardiac implants.
  • An investigation found 13 out of 59 operations, some involving unvalidated "innovative" implants, were inappropriate, suggesting conventional surgery might have yielded better outcomes.

Zurich University Hospital (USZ) finds itself at the center of a major scandal following the release of a damning investigative report detailing a "statistically significant excess mortality" within its cardiac surgery department. The report, covering the period from 2016 to 2020, points to a troubling number of deaths—estimated between 68 and 74—that occurred under the leadership of Professor Francesco Maisano. This official inquiry directly contradicts the hospital's previous assurances that no patients were harmed, raising serious questions about transparency and patient safety.

Une surmortalité statistiquement significative de 68 à 74 décès.

— Rapport d'enquête UK16/20The key finding of the investigative report regarding excess deaths in the cardiac surgery department.

The investigation, led by former federal judge Dr. Niklaus Oberholzer, meticulously examined operations performed during Maisano's tenure as head of cardiac surgery from October 2014 to May 2020. A key focus was Maisano's involvement in developing and profiting from new cardiac implants, including the Cardioband device for tricuspid valve replacement, through his stakes in the companies producing them. The report highlights that 13 out of 59 operations, some involving novel implants not yet fully validated, were deemed inappropriate, suggesting that standard surgical procedures might have been more suitable for patients.

Une intervention chirurgicale classique aurait probablement permis d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats pour les patients.

— Rapport d'enquête UK16/20The report's conclusion on the appropriateness of certain surgical procedures.

This report's findings have sent shockwaves through the Swiss medical community. René Prêtre, former director of cardiac surgery at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), critically stated that "too many patients were sacrificed in the name of innovation, instead of innovation serving the patients." This sentiment resonates deeply, as it speaks to a potential conflict of interest where the pursuit of groundbreaking medical technology may have overshadowed the primary duty of care. The implications for Zurich University Hospital are profound, demanding accountability and a thorough re-evaluation of its surgical practices and oversight mechanisms. The Swiss public, accustomed to high standards in healthcare, will undoubtedly expect swift and decisive action to restore trust in one of its leading medical institutions.

Trop de patients ont été sacrifiés au nom de l’innovation, au lieu que celle-ci soit au service des patients.

— René PrêtreA former director of cardiac surgery's critical comment on the situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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