BACKGROUND Pediatric appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain in children and is recognized as a significant surgical emergency.A prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent complications such as per...BACKGROUND Pediatric appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain in children and is recognized as a significant surgical emergency.A prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent complications such as perforation and peritonitis.AIM To investigate the predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)combined with the pediatric appendicitis score(PAS)for the assessment of disease severity and surgical outcomes in children aged 5 years and older with appendicitis.METHODS Clinical data of 104 children diagnosed with acute appendicitis were analyzed.The participants were categorized into the acute appendicitis group and chronic appendicitis group based on disease presentation and further stratified into the good prognosis group and poor prognosis group based on prognosis.The SII and PAS were measured,and a joint model using the combined SII and PAS was constructed to predict disease severity and surgical outcomes.RESULTS Significant differences were observed in the SII and PAS parameters between the acute appendicitis group and chronic appendicitis group.Correlation analysis showed associations among the SII,PAS,and disease severity,with the combined SII and PAS model demonstrating significant predictive value for assessing disease severity[aera under the curve(AUC)=0.914]and predicting surgical outcomes(AUC=0.857)in children aged 5 years and older with appendicitis.CONCLUSION The study findings support the potential of integrating the SII with the PAS for assessing disease severity and predicting surgical outcomes in pediatric appendicitis,indicating the clinical utility of the combined SII and PAS model in guiding clinical decision-making and optimizing surgical management strategies for pediatric patients with appendicitis.展开更多
Biliary atresia(BA), a chronic progressive cholestatic disease of infants, is the leading cause for liver transplant in children, especially in patients under two years of age. BA can be successfully treated with the ...Biliary atresia(BA), a chronic progressive cholestatic disease of infants, is the leading cause for liver transplant in children, especially in patients under two years of age. BA can be successfully treated with the Kasai portoenterostomy; however most patients still require a liver transplant, with up to one half of BA children needing a transplant by age two. In the current pediatric end-stage liver disease system, children with BA face the risk of not receiving a liver in a safe and timely manner. In this review, we discuss a number of possible solutions to help these children. We focus on two general approaches:(1) preventing/delaying need for transplantation, by optimizing the success of the Kasai operation; and(2) expediting transplantation when needed, by performing techniques other than the standard deceased-donor, whole, ABO-matched organ transplant.展开更多
Embolization of collateral veins is often treated with rigid coils(Gianturco and interlocking detachable coils type).However,when dealing with tortuous and dilated collateral veins,there is a high risk for technical f...Embolization of collateral veins is often treated with rigid coils(Gianturco and interlocking detachable coils type).However,when dealing with tortuous and dilated collateral veins,there is a high risk for technical failure and coil migration due to inflexibility of the coils.To safely and successfully solve this problem,Guglielmi detachable coils(GDC) can be used for embolization.Their flexibility allows for easy navigation in tortuous veins,low risk of unintended coil release or coil migration,and safe deployment.A 12-year-old girl with a single ventricle had severe cyanosis and a low exercise tolerance 5 years after Fontan procedure.The symp-toms were caused by a tortuous and dilated collateral from the left phrenic vein into the left pulmonary vein,forming a right-to-left shunt.The collateral,which had a large diameter and high flow,and therefore a high risk of coil migration,was successfully embolized with 8 GDC.There were no complications such as coil migration or cerebral infarction.Transcatheter embolization increased her systemic oxygen saturation from 81%-84% to 94%-95%,and increased her ability to exercise.The embolization procedure using flexible GDC was low risk compared with other rigid coil embolization techniques when performing embolization of tortuous and dilated collateral veins.展开更多
Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) applied to the non-lesional hemisphere is reported to significantly improve motor function of the affected upper limb in adult stroke patients with ...Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) applied to the non-lesional hemisphere is reported to significantly improve motor function of the affected upper limb in adult stroke patients with hemiparesis. For pediatric stroke patients, the beneficial effects of LF-rTMS have been already confirmed in a randomized controlled study. However, there is no report of therapeutic application of high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) in this patient population. In this case series study, we introduced HF-rTMS combined with intensive occupational therapy (OT) in two pediatric hemiparetic patients. We studied two children (8- and 9-year-old boys, both right-handed) with post-stroke upper limb hemiparesis (chronic phase). Both patients underwent 22 treatment sessions of HF-rTMS/OT during 15-day hospitalization. The HF-rTMS was applied over the lesional motor cortex at a frequency of 10Hz for 15 minutes in each session. One session of intensive OT consisted of 30-min one-to-one training and 30-min self-exercise. Motor function of the affected upper limb was serially evaluated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Simple Test for Evaluating hand Function (STEF), and Ten-second Test. Neither of the patients showed any adverse effects. Both patients showed improvement of motor function in the affected upper limb and were able to use the affected upper limb in some activities of daily living. In the two post-stroke pediatric patients, HF-rTMS/OT was safe and improved upper limb muscle function. Confirmation of these effects in a larger population is needed.展开更多
BACKGROUND Limb lengthening techniques play an increasingly important role in the pediatric orthopedic field.The principles of the osteogenesis distraction bonded traditionally with external fixators;however,the recen...BACKGROUND Limb lengthening techniques play an increasingly important role in the pediatric orthopedic field.The principles of the osteogenesis distraction bonded traditionally with external fixators;however,the recent deployment of fully implantable systems has been able to overcome severities related to external fixators.The PRECICE®is an implantable limb lengthening intramedullary nail system that is remotely controlled and magnetically driven.AIM To review the current literature available on this matter in order to assess the PRECICE clinical and radiological outcomes and its possible complications in a population of pediatric patients undergoing limb lengthening.METHODS Only five studies met the inclusion criteria and were consequently included in the review for a total of 131 patients and 135 femurs.The clinical and radiological outcomes of interest were:the main lengthening obtained,the distraction rate,the period of time to full weight bearing,the consolidation index,and the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov score.RESULTS In conclusion,data collected from the articles under investigation were comparable with the exception of the consolidation index.Unfortunately,the study population was too small and the patients’follow-up was too short to make definitive conclusions.CONCLUSION This review shows that the PRECICE Nail System is still a therapeutic challenge in limb lengthening for pediatric orthopedic surgeons;however,careful preoperative planning and an accurate surgical technique could allow the correction of more complex deformities with a low rate of complications.展开更多
BACKGROUND Endoscopic procedures are becoming increasingly important for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders during childhood,and have evolved from a more infrequent inpatient procedure in the op...BACKGROUND Endoscopic procedures are becoming increasingly important for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders during childhood,and have evolved from a more infrequent inpatient procedure in the operating room to a routine outpatient procedure conducted in multiple care settings.Demand for these procedures is rapidly increasing and thus there is a need to perform them in an efficient manner.However,there are little data comparing the efficiency of pediatric endoscopic procedures in diverse clinical environments.We hypothesized that there are significant differences in efficiency between settings.AIM To compare the efficiency and examine adverse effects of pediatric endoscopic procedures across three clinical settings.METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted on 1623 cases of esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)or combined EGD and colonoscopy performed between January 1,2014 and May 31,2018 by 6 experienced pediatric gastroenterologists in three different clinical settings,including a tertiary care hospital operating room,community hospital operating room,and free-standing pediatric ambulatory endoscopy center at a community hospital.The following strict guidelines were used to schedule patients at all three locations:age greater than 6 mo;American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 or 2;normal craniofacial anatomy;no anticipated therapeutic intervention(e.g.,foreign body retrieval,stricture dilation);and,no planned or anticipated hospitalization post-procedure.Data on demographics,times,admission rates,and adverse events were collected.Endoscopist time(elapsed time from the endoscopist entering the operating room or endoscopy suite to the next patient entering)and patient time(elapsed time from patient registration to that patient exiting the operating room or endoscopy suite)were calculated to assess efficiency.RESULTS In total,58%of the cases were performed in the tertiary care operating room.The median age of patients was 12 years and the male-to-female ratio was nearly equal across all locations.Endoscopist time at the tertiary care operating room was 12 min longer compared to the community operating room(63.3±21.5 min vs 51.4±18.9 min,P<0.001)and 7 min longer compared to the endoscopy center(vs 56.6±19.3 min,P<0.001).Patient time at the tertiary care operating room was 11 min longer compared to the community operating room(133.2±39.9 min vs 122.3±39.5 min,P<0.001)and 9 min longer compared to the endoscopy center(vs 124.9±37.9 min;P<0.001).When comparing endoscopist and patient times for EGD and EGD/colonoscopies among the three locations,endoscopist,and patient times were again shorter in the community hospital and endoscopy center compared to the tertiary care operating room.Adverse events from procedures occurred in 0.1%(n=2)of cases performed in the tertiary care operating room,with 2.2%(n=35)of cases from all locations having required an unplanned admission after the endoscopy for management of a primary GI disorder.CONCLUSION Pediatric endoscopic procedures can be conducted more efficiently in select patients in a community operating room and endoscopy center compared to a tertiary care operating room.展开更多
BACKGROUND The timing of operative treatment for pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures(SCHF)and femoral shaft fractures(FSF)remains controversial.Many fractures previously considered to be surgical emergencies,suc...BACKGROUND The timing of operative treatment for pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures(SCHF)and femoral shaft fractures(FSF)remains controversial.Many fractures previously considered to be surgical emergencies,such as SCHF and open fractures,are now commonly being treated the following day.When presented with an urgent fracture overnight needing operative treatment,the on-call surgeon must choose whether to mobilize resources for a late-night case or to add the case to an elective schedule of the following day.AIM To describe the effect of a program allowing an early operating room(OR)start for uncomplicated trauma prior to an elective day of surgery to decrease wait times for surgery for urgent fractures admitted overnight.METHODS Starting in October 2017,patients were eligible for the early slot in the OR at the discretion of the surgeon if they were admitted after 21:00 the previous night and before 05:00.We compared demographics and timing of treatment of SCHF and FSF treated one year before and after implementation as well as the survey responses from the surgical team.RESULTS Of the 44 SCHF meeting inclusion criteria,16 received treatment before imple mentation while 28 were treated after.After implementation,the mean wait time for surgery decreased by 4.8 h or 35.4%(13.4 h vs 8.7 h;P=0.001).There were no significant differences in the operative duration,time in the post anesthesia care unit,and wait time for discharge.Survey results demonstrated decreased popularity of the program among nurses and anesthesiologists relative to surgeons.Whereas 57%of the surgeons believed that the program was effective,only 9%of anesthesiologists and 16%of nurses agreed.The program was ultimately discontinued given the dissatisfaction.CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate significantly reduced wait times for surgery for uncomplicated SCHF presenting overnight while discussing the importance of shared decision-making with the stakeholders.Although the program produced promising results,it also created new conflicts within the OR staff that led to its discontinuation at our institution.Future implementations of such programs should involve stakeholders early in the planning process to better address the needs of the OR staff.展开更多
Introduction: Post-operative (post-op) complete atrio-ventricular heart block (CAVB) occurs after 1% - 4% of pediatric cardiac operations. Current practice dictates implantation of permanent pacemaker (PPM) when post-...Introduction: Post-operative (post-op) complete atrio-ventricular heart block (CAVB) occurs after 1% - 4% of pediatric cardiac operations. Current practice dictates implantation of permanent pacemaker (PPM) when post-op CAVB persists >9 days. We propose that earlier PPM implantation may be the most cost-effective methodology since patient costs increase with extended length of stay (LOS). Methods: Data on the probabilities of persistent post-op CAVB were extracted from published reports. No individual patient data were utilized during this study. This was utilized to create a decision-making model and a total cost analysis on post-op day 0 - 10 to determine the most cost-efficient day to implant a PPM. Cost variables included estimates of daily cardiac ICU care, cost of PPM implantation, LOS, cost related to possible superficial or deep infection based on published prevalence rates (2.3% and 4.9%, respectively) and need for explant due to deep infection or recovery of native conduction. The model assumes 5-day minimum LOS and 1 day increase in LOS with PPM implantation. Cost data were obtained from relevant billing codes and manufacturer list prices for PPM and leads. A secondary analysis evaluated probability of unnecessary PPMs implanted and excess costs. Results: Post-op day (POD) 4 is the lowest total cost of PPM implantation for post-op CAVB, even when accounting for possible risk of either superficial or deep infection. A one-way sensitivity analysis accounting for variability of cardiac ICU care costs between centers ranging from $3000 - $9000 per day consistently replicates POD 4 as the most cost-effective day for PPM implantation. Implant on POD 4 results in a 26% chance of unnecessary implantation. Conclusions: The most cost-efficient day for PPM implantation for post-op CAVB is post-op day 4, which results in a minimum total cost savings of $17,422 per patient. Added costs due to risk of superficial or deep infection are marginal due to low prevalence of post-operative infection in this population.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Pediatric appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain in children and is recognized as a significant surgical emergency.A prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent complications such as perforation and peritonitis.AIM To investigate the predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)combined with the pediatric appendicitis score(PAS)for the assessment of disease severity and surgical outcomes in children aged 5 years and older with appendicitis.METHODS Clinical data of 104 children diagnosed with acute appendicitis were analyzed.The participants were categorized into the acute appendicitis group and chronic appendicitis group based on disease presentation and further stratified into the good prognosis group and poor prognosis group based on prognosis.The SII and PAS were measured,and a joint model using the combined SII and PAS was constructed to predict disease severity and surgical outcomes.RESULTS Significant differences were observed in the SII and PAS parameters between the acute appendicitis group and chronic appendicitis group.Correlation analysis showed associations among the SII,PAS,and disease severity,with the combined SII and PAS model demonstrating significant predictive value for assessing disease severity[aera under the curve(AUC)=0.914]and predicting surgical outcomes(AUC=0.857)in children aged 5 years and older with appendicitis.CONCLUSION The study findings support the potential of integrating the SII with the PAS for assessing disease severity and predicting surgical outcomes in pediatric appendicitis,indicating the clinical utility of the combined SII and PAS model in guiding clinical decision-making and optimizing surgical management strategies for pediatric patients with appendicitis.
文摘Biliary atresia(BA), a chronic progressive cholestatic disease of infants, is the leading cause for liver transplant in children, especially in patients under two years of age. BA can be successfully treated with the Kasai portoenterostomy; however most patients still require a liver transplant, with up to one half of BA children needing a transplant by age two. In the current pediatric end-stage liver disease system, children with BA face the risk of not receiving a liver in a safe and timely manner. In this review, we discuss a number of possible solutions to help these children. We focus on two general approaches:(1) preventing/delaying need for transplantation, by optimizing the success of the Kasai operation; and(2) expediting transplantation when needed, by performing techniques other than the standard deceased-donor, whole, ABO-matched organ transplant.
文摘Embolization of collateral veins is often treated with rigid coils(Gianturco and interlocking detachable coils type).However,when dealing with tortuous and dilated collateral veins,there is a high risk for technical failure and coil migration due to inflexibility of the coils.To safely and successfully solve this problem,Guglielmi detachable coils(GDC) can be used for embolization.Their flexibility allows for easy navigation in tortuous veins,low risk of unintended coil release or coil migration,and safe deployment.A 12-year-old girl with a single ventricle had severe cyanosis and a low exercise tolerance 5 years after Fontan procedure.The symp-toms were caused by a tortuous and dilated collateral from the left phrenic vein into the left pulmonary vein,forming a right-to-left shunt.The collateral,which had a large diameter and high flow,and therefore a high risk of coil migration,was successfully embolized with 8 GDC.There were no complications such as coil migration or cerebral infarction.Transcatheter embolization increased her systemic oxygen saturation from 81%-84% to 94%-95%,and increased her ability to exercise.The embolization procedure using flexible GDC was low risk compared with other rigid coil embolization techniques when performing embolization of tortuous and dilated collateral veins.
文摘Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) applied to the non-lesional hemisphere is reported to significantly improve motor function of the affected upper limb in adult stroke patients with hemiparesis. For pediatric stroke patients, the beneficial effects of LF-rTMS have been already confirmed in a randomized controlled study. However, there is no report of therapeutic application of high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) in this patient population. In this case series study, we introduced HF-rTMS combined with intensive occupational therapy (OT) in two pediatric hemiparetic patients. We studied two children (8- and 9-year-old boys, both right-handed) with post-stroke upper limb hemiparesis (chronic phase). Both patients underwent 22 treatment sessions of HF-rTMS/OT during 15-day hospitalization. The HF-rTMS was applied over the lesional motor cortex at a frequency of 10Hz for 15 minutes in each session. One session of intensive OT consisted of 30-min one-to-one training and 30-min self-exercise. Motor function of the affected upper limb was serially evaluated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Simple Test for Evaluating hand Function (STEF), and Ten-second Test. Neither of the patients showed any adverse effects. Both patients showed improvement of motor function in the affected upper limb and were able to use the affected upper limb in some activities of daily living. In the two post-stroke pediatric patients, HF-rTMS/OT was safe and improved upper limb muscle function. Confirmation of these effects in a larger population is needed.
文摘BACKGROUND Limb lengthening techniques play an increasingly important role in the pediatric orthopedic field.The principles of the osteogenesis distraction bonded traditionally with external fixators;however,the recent deployment of fully implantable systems has been able to overcome severities related to external fixators.The PRECICE®is an implantable limb lengthening intramedullary nail system that is remotely controlled and magnetically driven.AIM To review the current literature available on this matter in order to assess the PRECICE clinical and radiological outcomes and its possible complications in a population of pediatric patients undergoing limb lengthening.METHODS Only five studies met the inclusion criteria and were consequently included in the review for a total of 131 patients and 135 femurs.The clinical and radiological outcomes of interest were:the main lengthening obtained,the distraction rate,the period of time to full weight bearing,the consolidation index,and the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov score.RESULTS In conclusion,data collected from the articles under investigation were comparable with the exception of the consolidation index.Unfortunately,the study population was too small and the patients’follow-up was too short to make definitive conclusions.CONCLUSION This review shows that the PRECICE Nail System is still a therapeutic challenge in limb lengthening for pediatric orthopedic surgeons;however,careful preoperative planning and an accurate surgical technique could allow the correction of more complex deformities with a low rate of complications.
文摘BACKGROUND Endoscopic procedures are becoming increasingly important for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders during childhood,and have evolved from a more infrequent inpatient procedure in the operating room to a routine outpatient procedure conducted in multiple care settings.Demand for these procedures is rapidly increasing and thus there is a need to perform them in an efficient manner.However,there are little data comparing the efficiency of pediatric endoscopic procedures in diverse clinical environments.We hypothesized that there are significant differences in efficiency between settings.AIM To compare the efficiency and examine adverse effects of pediatric endoscopic procedures across three clinical settings.METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted on 1623 cases of esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)or combined EGD and colonoscopy performed between January 1,2014 and May 31,2018 by 6 experienced pediatric gastroenterologists in three different clinical settings,including a tertiary care hospital operating room,community hospital operating room,and free-standing pediatric ambulatory endoscopy center at a community hospital.The following strict guidelines were used to schedule patients at all three locations:age greater than 6 mo;American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 or 2;normal craniofacial anatomy;no anticipated therapeutic intervention(e.g.,foreign body retrieval,stricture dilation);and,no planned or anticipated hospitalization post-procedure.Data on demographics,times,admission rates,and adverse events were collected.Endoscopist time(elapsed time from the endoscopist entering the operating room or endoscopy suite to the next patient entering)and patient time(elapsed time from patient registration to that patient exiting the operating room or endoscopy suite)were calculated to assess efficiency.RESULTS In total,58%of the cases were performed in the tertiary care operating room.The median age of patients was 12 years and the male-to-female ratio was nearly equal across all locations.Endoscopist time at the tertiary care operating room was 12 min longer compared to the community operating room(63.3±21.5 min vs 51.4±18.9 min,P<0.001)and 7 min longer compared to the endoscopy center(vs 56.6±19.3 min,P<0.001).Patient time at the tertiary care operating room was 11 min longer compared to the community operating room(133.2±39.9 min vs 122.3±39.5 min,P<0.001)and 9 min longer compared to the endoscopy center(vs 124.9±37.9 min;P<0.001).When comparing endoscopist and patient times for EGD and EGD/colonoscopies among the three locations,endoscopist,and patient times were again shorter in the community hospital and endoscopy center compared to the tertiary care operating room.Adverse events from procedures occurred in 0.1%(n=2)of cases performed in the tertiary care operating room,with 2.2%(n=35)of cases from all locations having required an unplanned admission after the endoscopy for management of a primary GI disorder.CONCLUSION Pediatric endoscopic procedures can be conducted more efficiently in select patients in a community operating room and endoscopy center compared to a tertiary care operating room.
文摘BACKGROUND The timing of operative treatment for pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures(SCHF)and femoral shaft fractures(FSF)remains controversial.Many fractures previously considered to be surgical emergencies,such as SCHF and open fractures,are now commonly being treated the following day.When presented with an urgent fracture overnight needing operative treatment,the on-call surgeon must choose whether to mobilize resources for a late-night case or to add the case to an elective schedule of the following day.AIM To describe the effect of a program allowing an early operating room(OR)start for uncomplicated trauma prior to an elective day of surgery to decrease wait times for surgery for urgent fractures admitted overnight.METHODS Starting in October 2017,patients were eligible for the early slot in the OR at the discretion of the surgeon if they were admitted after 21:00 the previous night and before 05:00.We compared demographics and timing of treatment of SCHF and FSF treated one year before and after implementation as well as the survey responses from the surgical team.RESULTS Of the 44 SCHF meeting inclusion criteria,16 received treatment before imple mentation while 28 were treated after.After implementation,the mean wait time for surgery decreased by 4.8 h or 35.4%(13.4 h vs 8.7 h;P=0.001).There were no significant differences in the operative duration,time in the post anesthesia care unit,and wait time for discharge.Survey results demonstrated decreased popularity of the program among nurses and anesthesiologists relative to surgeons.Whereas 57%of the surgeons believed that the program was effective,only 9%of anesthesiologists and 16%of nurses agreed.The program was ultimately discontinued given the dissatisfaction.CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate significantly reduced wait times for surgery for uncomplicated SCHF presenting overnight while discussing the importance of shared decision-making with the stakeholders.Although the program produced promising results,it also created new conflicts within the OR staff that led to its discontinuation at our institution.Future implementations of such programs should involve stakeholders early in the planning process to better address the needs of the OR staff.
文摘Introduction: Post-operative (post-op) complete atrio-ventricular heart block (CAVB) occurs after 1% - 4% of pediatric cardiac operations. Current practice dictates implantation of permanent pacemaker (PPM) when post-op CAVB persists >9 days. We propose that earlier PPM implantation may be the most cost-effective methodology since patient costs increase with extended length of stay (LOS). Methods: Data on the probabilities of persistent post-op CAVB were extracted from published reports. No individual patient data were utilized during this study. This was utilized to create a decision-making model and a total cost analysis on post-op day 0 - 10 to determine the most cost-efficient day to implant a PPM. Cost variables included estimates of daily cardiac ICU care, cost of PPM implantation, LOS, cost related to possible superficial or deep infection based on published prevalence rates (2.3% and 4.9%, respectively) and need for explant due to deep infection or recovery of native conduction. The model assumes 5-day minimum LOS and 1 day increase in LOS with PPM implantation. Cost data were obtained from relevant billing codes and manufacturer list prices for PPM and leads. A secondary analysis evaluated probability of unnecessary PPMs implanted and excess costs. Results: Post-op day (POD) 4 is the lowest total cost of PPM implantation for post-op CAVB, even when accounting for possible risk of either superficial or deep infection. A one-way sensitivity analysis accounting for variability of cardiac ICU care costs between centers ranging from $3000 - $9000 per day consistently replicates POD 4 as the most cost-effective day for PPM implantation. Implant on POD 4 results in a 26% chance of unnecessary implantation. Conclusions: The most cost-efficient day for PPM implantation for post-op CAVB is post-op day 4, which results in a minimum total cost savings of $17,422 per patient. Added costs due to risk of superficial or deep infection are marginal due to low prevalence of post-operative infection in this population.
