Performance of EuroSCORE II in a large US database: implications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation

The European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS-PROM) were validated for overall in-hospital mortality in an US cardiac surgery database comprising >50.000 patients. More reliable results were achieved with the STS-PROM. However, also the EuroSCORE II was found to be reliable in low-risk patients. The authors advert to the risk of overtreatment in these patients referring to the use of (investigational) transcatheter aortic valve implantation and advocate decision making by multidisciplinary heart teams.