Lisa McLeod

Prioritization of Comparative Effectiveness Research Topics in Hospital Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE To use information about prevalence, cost, and variation in resource utilization to prioritize comparative effectiveness research topics in hospital pediatrics. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of administrative and billing data for hospital encounters. SETTING Thirty-eight freestanding US childrens hospitals from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2009. PARTICIPANTS Children hospitalized with conditions that accounted for either 80% of all encounters or 80% of all charges. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Condition-specific prevalence, total standardized cost, and interhospital variation in mean standardized cost per encounter, measured in 2 ways: (1) intraclass correlation coefficient, which represents the fraction of total variation in standardized costs per encounter due to variation between hospitals; and (2) number of outlier hospitals, defined as having more than 30% of encounters with standardized costs in either the lowest or highest quintile across all encounters. RESULTS Among 495 conditions accounting for 80% of all charges, the 10 most expensive conditions accounted for 36% of all standardized costs. Among the 50 most prevalent and 50 most costly conditions (77 in total), 26 had intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.10 and 5 had intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.30. For 10 conditions, more than half of the hospitals met outlier hospital criteria. Surgical procedures for hypertrophy of tonsils and adenoids, otitis media, and acute appendicitis without peritonitis were high cost, were high prevalence, and displayed significant variation in interhospital cost per encounter. CONCLUSIONS Detailed administrative and billing data can be used to standardize hospital costs and identify high-priority conditions for comparative effectiveness research--those that are high cost, are high prevalence, and demonstrate high variation in resource utilization.

Building consensus: development of a Best Practice Guideline (BPG) for surgical site infection (SSI) prevention in high-risk pediatric spine surgery.

Background: Perioperative surgical site infection (SSI) after pediatric spine fusion is a recognized complication with rates between 0.5% and 1.6% in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and up to 22% in “high risk” patients. Significant variation in the approach to infection prophylaxis has been well documented. The purpose of this initiative is to develop a consensus-based “Best Practice” Guideline (BPG), informed by both the available evidence in the literature and expert opinion, for high-risk pediatric patients undergoing spine fusion. For the purpose of this effort, high risk was defined as anything other than a primary fusion in a patient with idiopathic scoliosis without significant comorbidities. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to decrease the wide variability in SSI prevention strategies in this area, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced health care costs. Methods: An expert panel composed of 20 pediatric spine surgeons and 3 infectious disease specialists from North America, selected for their extensive experience in the field of pediatric spine surgery, was developed. Using the Delphi process and iterative rounds using a nominal group technique, participants in this panel were as follows: (1) surveyed for current practices; (2) presented with a detailed systematic review of the relevant literature; (3) given the opportunity to voice opinion collectively; and (4) asked to vote regarding preferences privately. Round 1 was conducted using an electronic survey. Initial results were compiled and discussed face-to-face. Round 2 was conducted using the Audience Response System, allowing participants to vote for (strongly support or support) or against inclusion of each intervention. Agreement >80% was considered consensus. Interventions without consensus were discussed and revised, if feasible. Repeat voting for consensus was performed. Results: Consensus was reached to support 14 SSI prevention strategies and all participants agreed to implement the BPG in their practices. All agreed to participate in further studies assessing implementation and effectiveness of the BPG. The final consensus driven BPG for high-risk pediatric spine surgery patients includes: (1) patients should have a chlorhexidine skin wash the night before surgery; (2) patients should have preoperative urine cultures obtained; (3) patients should receive a preoperative Patient Education Sheet; (4) patients should have a preoperative nutritional assessment; (5) if removing hair, clipping is preferred to shaving; (6) patients should receive perioperative intravenous cefazolin; (7) patients should receive perioperative intravenous prophylaxis for gram-negative bacilli; (8) adherence to perioperative antimicrobial regimens should be monitored; (9) operating room access should be limited during scoliosis surgery (whenever practical); (10) UV lights need NOT be used in the operating room; (11) patients should have intraoperative wound irrigation; (12) vancomycin powder should be used in the bone graft and/or the surgical site; (13) impervious dressings are preferred postoperatively; (14) postoperative dressing changes should be minimized before discharge to the extent possible. Conclusions: In conclusion, we present a consensus-based BPG consisting of 14 recommendations for the prevention of SSIs after spine surgery in high-risk pediatric patients. This can serve as a tool to reduce the variability in practice in this area and help guide research priorities in the future. Pending such data, it is the unsubstantiated opinion of the authors of the current paper that adherence to recommendations in the BPG will not only decrease variability in practice but also result in fewer SSI in high-risk children undergoing spinal fusion. Level of Evidence: Not applicable.

Perioperative antibiotic use for spinal surgery procedures in US children's hospitals.

Study Design. Retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System database. Objective. To describe longitudinal patterns of prophylactic antibiotic use and determinants of antibiotic choice for spinal fusion surgical procedures performed at US childrens hospitals. Summary of Background Data. Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for a significant proportion of post–spinal surgery complications, particularly among children with complex conditions such as neuromuscular disease. Antimicrobial prophylaxis with intravenous cefazolin or cefuroxime has been a standard practice, but postoperative infections caused by organisms resistant to these antibiotics are increasing in prevalence. Studies describing the choice of antibiotic prophylaxis for pediatric spinal surgery are lacking. Methods. We included children 6 months to 18 years of age discharged from 37 US childrens hospitals between January 1, 2006, and June 30, 2009, with (1) an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure code indicating a spinal fusion and (2) combinations of diagnosis codes indicating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) (n = 5617) or neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) (n = 3633). After identifying antibiotics ordered on the operative day, we described variation in broad-spectrum antibiotic use over time and measured associations between patient/surgery characteristics and antibiotic choice. Results. Prophylactic antibiotic choice varied across hospitals and over time. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were used in 37% of AIS and 52% of NMS operations. Seven (19%) hospitals used broad-spectrum coverage for more 80% of all cases. For NMS procedures, broad-spectrum antibiotic use was associated with patient characteristics known to be associated with high SSI risk. Use of vancomycin and broad gram-negative agents increased over time. Conclusion. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis varied across hospitals and was often associated with known risk factors for SSI. These results highlight the need for future studies comparing the effectiveness of various prophylaxis strategies, particularly in high-risk subgroups. This research can inform the development of best practice for SSI prevention in spinal fusion procedures. Level of Evidence: 3

Antifibrinolytic Use and Blood Transfusions in Pediatric Scoliosis Surgeries Performed at US Children's Hospitals.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information Systems database. Objective: To determine the association between antifibrinolytic use and red cell transfusions in spinal fusion operations performed at 37 US Children’s Hospitals. Summary of Background Data: Evidence from randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews suggests that antifibrinolytic therapy can significantly reduce blood loss in children undergoing scoliosis surgery; however, the effectiveness of these agents as used in surgeries performed at US children’s has not been studied. Materials and Methods: We included children aged 0–18 years with diagnoses indicating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) or neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) for whom a spinal fusion procedure was performed between January 1, 2006 and September 30, 2009. Patients with malignancy, trauma, coagulation disorders, or for whom a cell salvage device was employed were excluded. Multilevel logistic regression was used to determine associations between &egr;-aminocaproic acid (EACA), tranexamic acid (TXA), and aprotinin (APR) use and blood transfusions, controlling for patient and surgery characteristics. Results: Cohorts consisted of 2722 AIS and 1547 NMS procedures. Antifibrinolytic use varied across hospitals (AIS 3.3%, interquartile range, 0%–42%; NMS 12 interquartile range, 0%–46%), and was significantly associated with NMS, posterior fusion, number of vertebrae fused. Overall, 15% of children received EACA, 7% TXA, and 2% APR. The median hospital-specific rate of red cell transfusions was 24% for AIS and 43% for NMS. In AIS operations, EACA use, but not TXA use, was associated with significantly lower odds of transfusion (odds ratio, 0.42; P<0.001 vs. odds ratio, 1.0; P=0.8). In NMS operations, neither EACA nor TXA use was associated with a decrease in odds of red cell transfusions. Conclusions: The effectiveness of antifibrinolytics as used outside of clinical trials is unclear and should continue to be explored. Future prospective research is needed to evaluate which administration protocols will most benefit patients, as well as to determine the comparative effectiveness of these drugs in the context of other blood conservation strategies.

Patient Volume and Quality of Care for Young Children Hospitalized With Acute Gastroenteritis

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between the volume of children admitted to the hospital with acute gastroenteritis and adherence to recommended quality indicators. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Premier Perspective clinical and financial information systems database (Premier Inc, Charlotte, North Carolina). PARTICIPANTS A total of 12,604 otherwise healthy children aged 3 months to 10 years hospitalized between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009, at 280 US hospitals with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes indicating acute gastroenteritis. MAIN EXPOSURE Volume of hospital admissions per year of children with acute gastroenteritis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Quality indicators for overuse and misuse of care in the management of acute gastroenteritis based on nationally published guidelines. These include blood testing, stool studies, use of antibiotics, and use of nonrecommended antiemetic or antidiarrheal medications (hereafter referred to as nonrecommended medications). RESULTS Selected blood, stool, and rotavirus tests (overuse indicators) were performed in 85%, 46%, and 56% of children, respectively. Six percent of children received nonrecommended medications, and 26% received antibiotics (misuse indicators). Higher volumes of hospital admission for acute gastroenteritis were associated with less use of blood tests (odds ratio [OR], 0.67 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.50-0.89]), nonrecommended medications (OR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.76-0.93]), and antibiotics (OR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.86-0.99]). Children admitted to hospitals in the 25th vs 75th percentile of patient volume had a 10%, 30%, and 10% increased chance of having blood tests, nonrecommended medications, and antibiotics ordered, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In a nationally representative sample of hospitals that care for children with acute gastroenteritis, higher patient volumes were associated with greater adherence to established quality indicators. Further investigation is needed to identify the hospital characteristics driving the volume-quality relationship for this common pediatric condition.

Pediatric hospitalist comanagement of surgical patients: Structural, quality, and financial considerations

Comanagement of surgical patients is occurring more commonly among adult and pediatric patients. These systems of care can vary according to institution type, comanagement structure, and type of patient. Comanagement can impact quality, safety, and costs of care. We review these implications for pediatric surgical patients.

Hospitalization for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children: Effect of an Asthma Codiagnosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common and expensive cause of hospitalization among US children, many of whom receive a codiagnosis of acute asthma. The objective of this study was to describe demographic characteristics, cost, length of stay (LOS), and adherence to clinical guidelines among these groups and to compare health care utilization and guideline adherence between them. METHODS This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study using data from the Pediatric Health Information System. Children aged 2 to 18 who were hospitalized with uncomplicated CAP from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2012 were included. Demographics, LOS, total standardized cost, and clinical guideline adherence were compared between patients with CAP only and CAP plus acute asthma. RESULTS Among the 25,124 admissions, 57% were diagnosed with CAP only; 43% had a codiagnosis of acute asthma. The geometric mean for standardized cost was

Variation in 60-day Readmission for Surgical-site Infections (SSIs) and Reoperation Following Spinal Fusion Operations for Neuromuscular Scoliosis.

4830; for LOS, it was 2.01 days. Eighty-four percent of patients had chest radiographs; CAP+acute asthma patients were less likely to have a blood culture performed (36% vs 62%, respectively) and more likely not to have a complete blood count performed (49% vs 27%, respectively). Greater guideline adherence was associated with higher cost at the patient-level but lower average cost per hospitalization at the hospital level. CAP+acute asthma patients had higher relative costs (11.8%) and LOS (5.6%) within hospitals and had more cost variation across hospitals, compared with patients with CAP only. CONCLUSIONS A codiagnosis of acute asthma is common for children with CAP. This could be from misdiagnosis or co-occurrence. Diagnostic and/or management variability appears to be greater in patients with CAP+asthma, which may increase resource utilization and LOS for these patients.

The Association between Adjuvant Pain Medication Use and Outcomes Following Pediatric Spinal Fusion.

Background: Readmission for surgical-site infection (SSIs) following spinal fusion for NMS impacts costs, patient risk, and family burden; however, it may be preventable. The purpose of this study was to examine variation in hospital performance based on risk-standardized 60-day readmission rates for SSI and reoperation across 39 US Children’s Hospitals. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database involving children aged 10 to 18 years with ICD9 codes indicating spinal fusion, scoliosis, and neuromuscular disease discharged from 39 US children’s hospitals between January 1, 2007 and September 1, 2012. Readmissions within 60 days for SSI were identified based on the presence of ICD9 codes for (1) infectious complication of device or procedure, or (2) sepsis or specific bacterial infection with an accompanying reoperation. Logistic regression models accounting for patient-level risk factors for SSI were used to estimate expected (patient-level risk across all hospitals) and predicted (weighted average of hospital-specific and all-hospital estimates) outcomes. Relative performance was determined using the hospital-specific predicted versus expected (pe) ratios. Results: Average volume across hospitals ranged from 2 to 23 fusions/quarter and was not associated with readmissions. Of the 7560 children in the cohort, 534 (7%) were readmitted for reoperation and 451 (6%) were readmitted for SSI within 60 days of discharge. Reoperations were associated with an SSI in 70% of cases. Across hospitals, SSI and reoperation rates ranged from 1% to 11% and 1% to 12%, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, insurance, presence of a gastric tube, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, tracheostomy, prior admissions, number of chronic conditions, procedure type (anterior/posterior), and level (>9 or <9 vertebrae), pe ratios indicating hospital performance varied by 2-fold for each outcome. Conclusions: After standardizing outcomes using patient-level factors and relative case mix, several hospitals in this cohort were more successful at preventing readmissions for SSIs and reoperations. Closer examination of the organization and implementation of strategies for SSI prevention at high-performing centers may offer valuable clues for improving care at lower performing institutions. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Variation in Inpatient Croup Management and Outcomes

Study Design. A comparative effectiveness database study. Objective. The aim of this study was to describe variation in use of adjuvant therapies for managing postoperative pain in in patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and determine association between use of these therapies and patient outcomes. Summary of Background Data. Variation in postoperative pain management for children undergoing PSF for AIS likely impacts outcomes. Minimal evidence exists to support strategies that most effectively minimize prolonged intravenous (IV) opioids and hospitalizations. Methods. We included patients aged 10 to 18 years discharged from one of 38 freestanding childrens hospitals participating in a national database from December 1, 2012, to January 5, 2015, with ICD9 codes indicating scoliosis and PSF procedure. Use of ketorolac, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogues (GABAa), and benzodiazepines was compared across hospitals. Hierarchical logistic regression adjusting for confounders and accounting for clustering of patients within hospitals was used to estimate association between these therapies and odds of prolonged duration of IV opioids, prolonged length of stay (LOS), and early readmissions. Results. Across hospitals, use of ketorolac and GABAa was highly variable and increased over time among 7349 subjects. Use of ketorolac was independently associated with significantly lower odds of prolonged LOS [odds ratio (OR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.64–0.89] and prolonged duration of IV opioid (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73–0.98). GABAa use was significantly associated with decreased odds of prolonged IV opioid use (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.53–0.75). Readmission rate at 30 days was 1.6% and most strongly associated with prolonged LOS. Conclusion. In this national cohort of children with AIS undergoing PSF, patients who received postoperative ketorolac or GABAa were less likely to have prolonged IV opioid exposure. Given the rapid increase in use of adjuvant therapies without strong evidence, resources should be devoted to multicenter trials in order to optimize effectiveness and outcomes. Level of Evidence: 3