http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/13/kryptonite-super-glue-breastbone-sternum-healing-fedak/#comment-16640 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:31:41 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/13/kryptonite-super-glue-breastbone-sternum-healing-fedak/#comment-16640 I was listening to some of the coverage of this story and learned that there are 1.4M sternotomies (surgeries where the breast bone is opened up) across the globe each year. My understanding from hearing details of the patient impact that the procedure could easily shave days off each patient's hospital stay. Conservatively, let's say only one less day per patient and $1,000 per patient-hospital-day. Even at those underestimates, the procedure could shave $1.4B bottom line from the cost of health care around the globe. In reality it could be a lot more, including with fewer prescriptions. Amazing! Good on the Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the University of Calgary (www.LibinInstitute.org) - need more doctors, nurses and scientists working together to create real-world solutions. Good stuff Drs Fedak and King!!! I was listening to some of the coverage of this story and learned that there are 1.4M sternotomies (surgeries where the breast bone is opened up) across the globe each year. My understanding from hearing details of the patient impact that the procedure could easily shave days off each patient’s hospital stay. Conservatively, let’s say only one less day per patient and $1,000 per patient-hospital-day. Even at those underestimates, the procedure could shave $1.4B bottom line from the cost of health care around the globe. In reality it could be a lot more, including with fewer prescriptions. Amazing! Good on the Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the University of Calgary (www.LibinInstitute.org) - need more doctors, nurses and scientists working together to create real-world solutions. Good stuff Drs Fedak and King!!!

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