Optimal resources for cardiac surgery. Guidelines for program planning and evaluation.

This updated and expanded planning guideline describes the optimal environment in which cardiac surgery can be performed effectively and safely and suggests criteria for evaluating existing facillities and for long-range hospital planning. The status of cardiac surgery is reviewed and measures are provided for assessing a hospital's ability to support a cardiac surgical service. Recommendations are given for appropriate case loads, administrative arrangements, and professional staff qualifications and relationships. The emerging role of the nurse is considered and requirements are enumerated for allied clinical supporting services. Special criteria are provided for pediatric cardiac surgical units and detailed specifications are given for the hospital's physical plant and equipment including a protocol for checking the electrical safety of surgical suites. A data base is suggested for taking regular inventory of community cardiac surgical programs.