title: Economic considerations in the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs.
abstract: The acceptance of new and increasingly expensive technologies is a major component of the rising costs of health care. While the practice of anesthesia has been relatively immune from the effects of cost containment, it is inevitable that practitioners will have to justify costly practices. Available pharmacoeconomic methods can be applied to the use of all anesthetic drugs, particularly neuromuscular blocking drugs. Cost-effectiveness analysis allows the practicing anesthesiologist to prioritize the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs to maximize their benefit while reducing unnecessary costs.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: DeMonaco
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000191:economics*; D003363:Cost Control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D017300:Pipecuronium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D017300:Pipecuronium; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D010197:Pancuronium; C049429:doxacurium