Pediheart Podcast #245: Can Machine Learning Models Help Guide Timing For Postoperative Pacemaker Insertion?

This week we delve into the world machine learning and decision tree analysis modeling as it is applied to postoperative heart block decisions. Traditional thinking suggests that all congenital heart surgical patients with postoperative heart block should be observed for 7-10 days to allow for possible resolution of conduction block. However, is 7 days truly required in all cases? Are there patients in whom 7 days is not necessary? What could the impact be of earlier pacemaker insertion in these patients? How early can the decision to pace permanently be made and in whom? How does machine learning allow for a potentially more powerful model for this sort of analysis? We speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dr. Son Duong about an exciting work he co-authored at Stanford University. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCEP.122.011145