The most thorough investigation ever into individual surgeons' performance at the operating table has found that the United Kingdom's cardiac surgeons are among the best in the world, with more adults surviving surgery despite patients being sicker and older than elsewhere.

All 222 cardiac surgeons who operate on adults in the United Kingdom met safety limits laid down by the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, with none working at a mortality higher than 6% for coronary bypass surgery and many with much lower rates.

Of almost 25 000 bypass operations done in the United Kingdom each year, the average mortality for 2003 was 1.8%, …