Improving the quality of cardiac surgery through better assessments
Official title: Novel Assessments of Technical and Non-Technical Cardiac Surgery Quality
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10745715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to make heart surgery safer and more effective by checking how well surgical teams work together and their skills during the operation, especially for patients getting bypass surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $656,239 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL146619-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10745715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing cardiac surgery or those with conditions that preclude surgical intervention may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to enhance the quality of cardiac surgery by examining both technical skills and non-technical practices of surgical teams. It focuses on the intraoperative phase of coronary artery bypass grafting, where many complications arise. By utilizing advanced computer-based assessments of video recordings, the study aims to objectively evaluate surgeon performance and team dynamics in real surgical settings. This approach seeks to identify key factors that contribute to better patient outcomes and reduce complications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved surgical techniques and reduced complications for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in non-cardiac surgery has shown that objective assessments of surgical skills can correlate with improved outcomes, suggesting potential success for this novel approach in cardiac surgery.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Likosky, Donald S — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Likosky, Donald S
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.