Impact of a cost containment program on the use of volatile anesthetics and neuromuscular blocking drugs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of a cost containment program on the use of volatile anesthetics and neuromuscular blocking drugs.


METHODS
Historical, controlled, retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Main operating rooms of an adult general hospital at a university medical center.


METHODS
All patients undergoing anesthesia between July 1991 and November 1993.


RESULTS
Cost per case was determined by dividing the monthly expenditure for each class of drug by the caseload for that month. Cost per case of volatile anesthetic drugs decreased from $19.20 +/- 1.16 to $15.16 +/- 0.39 (p = 0.0034 by unpaired t-test). For neuromuscular blocking drugs, cost per case decreased from $19.67 +/- 1.35 to $12.23 +/- 0.66 (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Concerted educational efforts can decrease the per case expenditures for both volatile anesthetic drugs and neuromuscular blocking drugs.
Szocik
J F
JF
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Learned
D W
DW
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics; D000328:Adult; D000761:Anesthesia Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D000764:Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003363:Cost Control; D016527:Drug Costs; D004363:Drug Utilization; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D009609:Nitrous Oxide