Objective: A review of the treatment of pediatric acute mastoiditis requiring surgical intervention managed with and without PICC therapy postoperatively.
Study design and setting: Retrospective study of 42 cases from 1989 to 2004 treated at a regional children's hospital.
Results: Sixteen patients received postoperative PICC therapy and 26 received a course of oral antibiotics. The PICC group received on average 12.12 days of intravenous antibiotics compared to only 3.53 days for the non-PICC group (P < 0.001). No differences were observed between the two groups in treatment outcomes. One patient from each group required rehospitalization. One minor complication was experienced in a patient in the PICC group. There were no surgical complications. The total cost for outpatient PICC therapy increased treatment costs by approximately $1500 to $2500.
Conclusions: Oral antibiotic therapy is sufficient after surgical intervention for acute pediatric suppurative mastoiditis without intracranial complications and does not result in adverse treatment outcome.
Significance: Use of PICC therapy after surgical intervention for mastoiditis should be limited.
Ebm rating: B-3b.