Textbook outcome (TO) integrates multiple perioperative parameters to define an optimal surgical result in adult cardiac surgery.
Among nearly one million elective adult cardiac surgery patients, 86% achieved TO, predominantly limited by prolonged hospitalization.
Achieving TO was associated with a 63% reduction in 180-day mortality and 34% reduction in nonelective readmissions.
Hospital-level TO rates varied substantially, correlating with operative volume and teaching status, supporting TO’s role in benchmarking surgical quality.
