Comparative Cost-Analysis of a Propofol-Cisatracurium-Based Anesthesia With Remifentanil or Fentanyl for Laparoscopic Surgery

Cost-effectiveness analysis of levobupivacaine 0.5 %, a local anesthetic, infusion in the surgical wound after modified radical mastectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Effective treatment of postoperative pain contributes to decreasing the rate of complications as well as the total cost of the operated patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the costs and the efficiency of use of continuous infusion of levobupivacaine 0.5 % with the help of an infusion pump in modified radical mastectomy.

METHODS

A cost calculation of the analgesic procedures (continuous infusion of levobupivacaine 0.5 % [levobupivacaine group (LG)] or saline [saline group (SG)] (2 ml/h 48 h) has been carried out based on the data of a previous clinical trial (double-blind randomized study) of patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy surgery. The measure of the effectiveness was the point reduction of pain derived from the verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS). The usual incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was performed.

RESULTS

Considering only the intravenous analgesia, overall costs were lower in LG, as less analgesia was used (EUR14.06 ± 7.89 vs. 27.47 ± 14.79; p < 0.001). In this study the costs of the infusion pump were not calculated as it was used by both groups and they offset each other. However, if the infusion pump costs were included, costs would be higher in the LG, (EUR91.89 ± 7.89 vs. 27.47 ± 14.79; p < 0.001) and then the ICER was -8.51, meaning that for every extra point of decrease in the pain verbal numerical rating score over the 2-day period, the cost increased by EUR8.51.

CONCLUSION

Infiltration of local anesthetics is an effective technique for controlling postoperative pain and the associated added costs are relatively low in relation to the total cost of mastectomy, therefore providing patients with a higher quality of care in the prevention of pain.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov: reference number NCT01389934. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01389934

Cost drivers in anesthesia: manpower, technique and other factors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the recent literature on cost drivers in anesthesia with respect to staff, techniques and drug costs, and with special focus on anesthesia workflow in the postanesthesia care unit. Moreover, the costs of post-operative pain management provided by an acute pain service are highlighted.

RECENT FINDINGS

Staff costs represent the main contributor to anesthesia costs in all studies. Therefore, many studies address the reduction of personnel costs, e.g. by using fast-tracking procedures which allow the patients to bypass the postanesthesia care unit. However, postanesthesia care unit bypassing and replacement of anesthesiologists by certified anesthesia nurses were not able to significantly decrease anesthesia costs. If anesthesiologists are reimbursed by surgically controlled time, this time is the main determinator for anesthesia costs and should be carefully monitored. Regional anesthesia techniques can help to reduce costs in the ambulatory setting because of reduced post-operative side-effects and earlier home readiness of the patients. Low gas flow and modern electroencephalographic monitoring can contribute to decreased drug-related costs. Acute pain services are mainly run by anesthesia staff thus increasing the costs in anesthesia departments. However, an acute pain service can reduce costs of surgical procedures significantly.

SUMMARY

Clear definition of the meaning of cost drivers and of criteria which allow assessment of patients' condition, and peri-operative standard operating procedures are warranted to ensure comparability of economic data in anesthesia.