ACS NSQIP Participant Use Data File

The Participant Use Data File (PUF) is a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant data file containing cases submitted to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program^®.

The 2023 PUF contains 994,313 cases submitted from 676 NSQIP-participating sites. Seventeen other separate NSQIP PUFs, containing a rich database of more than 11.6 million cases, are also available. Only cases included in corresponding Semiannual Report (SAR) risk-adjustment calculations are in the PUF datasets. For background information on the case inclusion/exclusion criteria and the data collection and submission processes, please visit the ACS NSQIP Program Specific page. Variable formats, variable definitions (which can change from year to year), and other supporting information are available in the PUF User Guides. The data files are made available in a delimited text, SAS, and SPSS file type.

The 2023 PUF User Guide is available.

Previously Available PUFs

2022–1,011,899 cases submitted by 702 hospitals (2022 PUF User Guide)
2021–983,851 cases submitted by 685 hospitals (2021 PUF User Guide)
2020—902,968 cases submitted by 706 hospitals (2020 PUF User Guide)
2019—1,076,411 cases submitted by 719 hospitals (2019 PUF User Guide)
2018—1,020,511 cases submitted by 722 hospitals (2018 PUF User Guide)
2017—1,028,713 cases submitted by 708 hospitals (2017 PUF User Guide)
2016—1,000,393 cases submitted by 680 hospitals (2016 PUF User Guide)
2015—885,502 cases submitted by 603 hospitals (2015 PUF User Guide)
2014—750,397 cases submitted by 517 hospitals (2014 PUF User Guide)
2013—651,490 cases submitted by 435 hospitals (2013 PUF User Guide)
2012—543,885 cases submitted by 374 hospitals (2012 PUF User Guide)
2011—442,149 cases submitted by 315 hospitals (2011 PUF User Guide)
2010—363,431 cases submitted by 258 hospitals (2010 PUF User Guide)
2009—336,190 cases submitted by 237 hospitals (2009 PUF User Guide)
2008—271,368 cases submitted by 211 hospitals (2008 PUF User Guide)
2007—211,407 cases submitted by 183 hospitals (2007 PUF User Guide)
2005-06—152,490 cases submitted by 121 hospitals (2005–2006 PUF User Guide)

Procedure Targeted PUFs

The corresponding 2023 Procedure Targeted PUFs for Vascular, Colectomy, Pancreatectomy, Proctectomy, Hepatectomy, Thyroidectomy, Esophagectomy, Appendectomy, Gynecology, Hysterectomy, Hip Fracture, Cystectomy, Nephrectomy and Prostatectomy are available as well. For background information on the case inclusion/exclusion criteria and the data collection and submission processes, please visit the Program Specific page. Variable formats, variable definitions, and other supporting information are available in the PUF User Guides. Each case in the Targeted PUF files can be merged with a case in the time-corresponding standard PUF using a key-matching variable. The data files are made available in a delimited text, SAS, and SPSS file type. The 2023 Procedure Targeted PUFs and their sizes are:

2023 Vascular PUF – 2,245 cases submitted by 58 hospitals
2023 Colectomy PUF – 48,679 cases submitted by 355 hospitals
2023 Pancreatectomy PUF – 8,015 cases submitted by 168 hospitals
2023 Proctectomy PUF – 4,247 cases submitted by 212 hospitals
2023 Hepatectomy PUF – 5,382 cases submitted by 159 hospitals
2023 Thyroidectomy PUF – 8,164 cases submitted by 88 hospitals
2023 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,049 cases submitted by 84 hospitals
2023 Appendectomy PUF – 14,882 cases submitted by 98 hospitals
2023 Gynecology PUF – 975 cases submitted by 32 hospitals
2023 Hysterectomy PUF – 40,062 cases submitted by 174 hospitals
2023 Hip Fracture PUF – 11,570 cases submitted by 111 hospitals
2023 Cystectomy PUF – 2,638 cases submitted by 113 hospitals
2023 Nephrectomy PUF – 8,151 cases submitted by 126 hospitals
2023 Prostatectomy PUF – 8,378 cases submitted by 113 hospitals

The 2023 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide is available.

105 other separate Procedure Targeted PUFs, with some going back to 2011, are also available.

Vascular PUF (11 files available)

2022 Vascular PUF – 2,727 cases submitted by 77 hospitals
2021 Vascular PUF – 2,572 cases submitted by 69 hospitals
2020 Vascular PUF – 2,398 cases submitted by 78 hospitals
2019 Vascular PUF – 3,912 cases submitted by 85 hospitals
2018 Vascular PUF – 3,807 cases submitted by 98 hospitals
2017 Vascular PUF – 4,177 cases submitted by 95 hospitals
2016 Vascular PUF – 4,071 cases submitted by 95 hospitals
2015 Vascular PUF – 4,199 cases submitted by 89 hospitals
2014 Vascular PUF – 4,029 cases submitted by 83 hospitals
2013 Vascular PUF – 4,292 cases submitted by 83 hospitals
2011-12 Vascular PUF – 655 cases submitted by 71 hospitals

Colectomy PUF (11 files available)

2022 Colectomy PUF – 47,255 cases submitted by 359 hospitals
2021 Colectomy PUF – 44,518 cases submitted by 341 hospitals
2020 Colectomy PUF – 40,139 cases submitted by 338 hospitals
2019 Colectomy PUF – 47,425 cases submitted by 336 hospitals
2018 Colectomy PUF – 41,386 cases submitted by 343 hospitals
2017 Colectomy PUF – 38,139 cases submitted by 285 hospitals
2016 Colectomy PUF – 35,908 cases submitted by 274 hospitals
2015 Colectomy PUF – 31,307 cases submitted by 239 hospitals
2014 Colectomy PUF – 25,262 cases submitted by 203 hospitals
2013 Colectomy PUF – 21,505 cases submitted by 154 hospitals
2011-12 Colectomy PUF – 16,981 cases submitted by 121 hospitals

Pancreatectomy PUF (9 files available)

2022 Pancreatectomy PUF – 8,035 cases submitted by 167 hospitals
2021 Pancreatectomy PUF – 7,874 cases submitted by 168 hospitals
2020 Pancreatectomy PUF – 7,496 cases submitted by 166 hospitals
2019 Pancreatectomy PUF – 7,814 cases submitted by 165 hospitals
2018 Pancreatectomy PUF – 7,248 cases submitted by 158 hospitals
2017 Pancreatectomy PUF – 6,918 cases submitted by 142 hospitals
2016 Pancreatectomy PUF – 6,244 cases submitted by 137 hospitals
2015 Pancreatectomy PUF – 6,032 cases submitted by 120 hospitals
2014 Pancreatectomy PUF – 5,187 cases submitted by 106 hospitals

Hepatectomy PUF (9 files available)

2022 Hepatectomy PUF – 5,232 cases submitted by 154 hospitals
2021 Hepatectomy PUF – 5,170 cases submitted by 149 hospitals
2020 Hepatectomy PUF – 4,895 cases submitted by 141 hospitals
2019 Hepatectomy PUF – 5,074 cases submitted by 141 hospitals
2018 Hepatectomy PUF – 4,773 cases submitted by 133 hospitals
2017 Hepatectomy PUF – 4,505 cases submitted by 120 hospitals
2016 Hepatectomy PUF – 4,325 cases submitted by 116 hospitals
2015 Hepatectomy PUF – 3,854 cases submitted by 105 hospitals
2014 Hepatectomy PUF – 3,064 cases submitted by 92 hospitals

Gynecology PUF (9 files available)

2022 Gynecology PUF – 1,038 cases submitted by 33 hospitals
2021 Gynecology PUF – 1,061 cases submitted by 36 hospitals
2020 Gynecology PUF – 962 cases submitted by 38 hospitals
2019 Gynecology PUF – 1,313 cases submitted by 41 hospitals
2018 Gynecology PUF – 1,320 cases submitted by 46 hospitals
2017 Gynecology PUF – 1,250 cases submitted by 41 hospitals
2016 Gynecology PUF – 781 cases submitted by 33 hospitals
2015 Gynecology PUF – 492 cases submitted by 29 hospitals
2014 Gynecology PUF – 500 cases submitted by 19 hospitals

Hysterectomy PUF (9 files available)

2022 Hysterectomy PUF – 40,523 cases submitted by 175 hospitals
2021 Hysterectomy PUF – 39,407 cases submitted by 170 hospitals
2020 Hysterectomy PUF – 36,132 cases submitted by 176 hospitals
2019 Hysterectomy PUF – 43,857 cases submitted by 173 hospitals
2018 Hysterectomy PUF – 39,954 cases submitted by 192 hospitals
2017 Hysterectomy PUF – 34,070 cases submitted by 147 hospitals
2016 Hysterectomy PUF – 29,964 cases submitted by 136 hospitals
2015 Hysterectomy PUF – 23,360 cases submitted by 109 hospitals
2014 Hysterectomy PUF – 19,283 cases submitted by 91 hospitals

Proctectomy PUF (7 files available)

2022 Proctectomy PUF – 4,454 cases submitted by 212 hospitals
2021 Proctectomy PUF – 4,328 cases submitted by 201 hospitals
2020 Proctectomy PUF – 4,189 cases submitted by 190 hospitals
2019 Proctectomy PUF – 4,905 cases submitted by 193 hospitals
2018 Proctectomy PUF – 4,621 cases submitted by 200 hospitals
2017 Proctectomy PUF – 4,576 cases submitted by 166 hospitals
2016 Proctectomy PUF – 4,217 cases submitted by 159 hospitals

Thyroidectomy PUF (7 files available)

2022 Thyroidectomy PUF – 8,603 cases submitted by 94 hospitals
2021 Thyroidectomy PUF – 7,233 cases submitted by 89 hospitals
2020 Thyroidectomy PUF – 5,593 cases submitted by 84 hospitals
2019 Thyroidectomy PUF – 6,864 cases submitted by 83 hospitals
2018 Thyroidectomy PUF – 6,452 cases submitted by 112 hospitals
2017 Thyroidectomy PUF – 5,755 cases submitted by 91 hospitals
2016 Thyroidectomy PUF – 5,871 cases submitted by 93 hospitals

Esophagectomy PUF (7 files available)

2022 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,074 cases submitted by 81 hospitals
2021 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,057 cases submitted by 83 hospitals
2020 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,187 cases submitted by 83 hospitals
2019 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,290 cases submitted by 85 hospitals
2018 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,179 cases submitted by 82 hospitals
2017 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,066 cases submitted by 76 hospitals
2016 Esophagectomy PUF – 1,034 cases submitted by 71 hospitals

Appendectomy PUF (7 files available)

2022 Appendectomy PUF – 13,653 cases submitted by 104 hospitals
2021 Appendectomy PUF – 14,296 cases submitted by 106 hospitals
2020 Appendectomy PUF – 13,210 cases submitted by 111 hospitals
2019 Appendectomy PUF – 15,110 cases submitted by 112 hospitals
2018 Appendectomy PUF – 12,667 cases submitted by 131 hospitals
2017 Appendectomy PUF – 12,406 cases submitted by 113 hospitals
2016 Appendectomy PUF – 12,376 cases submitted by 115 hospitals

Hip Fracture PUF (7 files available)

2022 Hip Fracture PUF – 11,424 cases submitted by 115 hospitals
2021 Hip Fracture PUF – 12,395 cases submitted by 119 hospitals
2020 Hip Fracture PUF – 13,657 cases submitted by 141 hospitals
2019 Hip Fracture PUF – 14,523 cases submitted by 140 hospitals
2018 Hip Fracture PUF – 11,855 cases submitted by 152 hospitals
2017 Hip Fracture PUF – 10,506 cases submitted by 115 hospitals
2016 Hip Fracture PUF – 9,390 cases submitted by 117 hospitals

Cystectomy PUF (4 files available)

2022 Cystectomy PUF – 2,830 cases submitted by 108 hospitals
2021 Cystectomy PUF – 2,832 cases submitted by 111 hospitals
2020 Cystectomy PUF – 3,150 cases submitted by 107 hospitals
2019 Cystectomy PUF (NEW) – 2,953 cases submitted by 107 hospitals

Nephrectomy PUF (4 files available)

2022 Nephrectomy PUF – 8,026 cases submitted by 133 hospitals
2021 Nephrectomy PUF – 7,536 cases submitted by 129 hospitals
2020 Nephrectomy PUF – 6,585 cases submitted by 122 hospitals
2019 Nephrectomy PUF (NEW) – 7,818 cases submitted by 117 hospitals

Prostatectomy PUF (4 files available)

2022 Prostatectomy PUF – 8,692 cases submitted by 119 hospitals
2021 Prostatectomy PUF – 7,649 cases submitted by 115 hospitals
2020 Prostatectomy PUF – 7,133 cases submitted by 116 hospitals
2019 Prostatectomy PUF (NEW) – 8,256 cases submitted by 125 hospitals

Previous Procedure Targeted PUF User Guides

2022 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2021 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2020 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2019 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2018 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2017 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2016 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2015 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2014 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2013 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2012 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide
2011 Procedure Targeted PUF User Guide

Requesting a PUF

To request a copy of the PUF, individuals (data recipients) must agree to comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the Data Use Agreement, provide contact information, and complete a short online questionnaire. Once the information provided by the data recipient is received and processed by ACS NSQIP staff, a website address will be submitted electronically to the data recipient. The data recipient will then have 10 days (240 hours) to visit the website and download the data file.

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PUF Eligibility

ACS NSQIP PUF access is a benefit of NSQIP participation and is reserved for staff at participating and active ACS NSQIP hospitals. ACS policies do not allow access or sale to non-participants. Read our ACS NSQIP PUF Eligibility Requirements and FAQs for more information about the PUF eligibility requirements, approval process, and more.

For questions or comments about the Participant Use Data File, please contact Brian Matel at bmatel@facs.org.