Consumer Reports that rates items from cars and toasters has released the report card of medical groups that perform heart bypass surgical operations.

In a majority of regions, doctors' ratings based on data are not available to patients. Just a few states, which also include New York, offer the information.

The magazine has issued ratings of 221 surgical groups from 42 states on the internet on Tuesday and is going to print them in the October issue.

Individual doctors have not been rated but groups.

For below average, average or above, the groups received one, two or three stars.

The ratings that have been offered are based on complications and survival rates and if the groups made use of apt surgical procedures.

Also, if the patients were sent home with particular medicines that offered benefits after this form of surgery, was considered while rating the groups.

For the given time, the details regarding the ratings are only available on Consumer Reports online or in the magazine.

However, Dr. Fred H. Edwards, the Chairman of Quality and Research for the society, and Medical Director for Cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Florida in Jacksonville said it is expected that in a few month's time, the results will be published on the site of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons: www. sts. org.