{Reference Type}: Randomized Controlled Trial {Title}: Povidone-iodine intra-abdominal irrigation versus no irrigation in pediatric perforated appendicitis: A secondary economic analysis of a Bayesian randomized controlled trial. {Author}: Ferguson DM;Anderson KT;Avritscher EBC;Arshad SA;Bartz-Kurycki MA;Lally KP;Tsao K; {Journal}: Am J Surg {Volume}: 227 {Issue}: 0 {Year}: 2024 Jan 5 {Factor}: 3.125 {DOI}: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.10.013 {Abstract}: BACKGROUND: A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in children (2-17 ​y) with perforated appendicitis demonstrated an 89% probability of reduced intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) rate with povidone-iodine (PVI) irrigation, compared with no irrigation (NI). We hypothesized that PVI also reduced 30-day hospital costs.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective economic analysis of a pilot RCT. Hospital costs, inflated to 2019 U.S. dollars, were obtained for index admissions and 30-day emergency visits and readmissions. Cost differences between groups were assessed using frequentist and Bayesian generalized linear models.
RESULTS: We observed a 95% Bayesian probability that PVI reduced 30-day mean total hospital costs ($16,555 [PVI] versus $18,509 [NI]; Bayesian cost ratio: 0.90, 95% CrI, 0.78-1.03). The mean absolute difference per patient was $1,954 less with PVI (95% CI, -$4,288 to $379).
CONCLUSIONS: PVI likely reduced the IAA rate and 30-day hospital costs, suggesting the intervention is both clinically superior and cost saving.