title: Cost-effective anesthesia: desflurane versus propofol in outpatient surgery.
abstract: This study compared the costs of desflurane and propofol as maintenance anesthetic agents in outpatient surgery. Recovery time and related drug expenses were included in the cost comparison. Fifty-three ASA physical status I and II patients were randomly assigned to receive a maintenance anesthetic of either desflurane with 50% nitrous oxide or propofol with 50% nitrous oxide. All patients received a propofol induction and were administered narcotics, sedatives, muscle relaxants, reversal agents, and antiemetics as determined necessary by the anesthesia provider. The mean propofol cost was $31.88 +/- 14.44, whereas, the mean desflurane cost was $12.99 +/- 7.61 (P < .05). The mean cost of all medications, anesthetics, and ancillary agents included was $57.97 +/- 20.22 for the propofol group and $34.86 +/- 14.13 for the desflurane group (P < .05). Of the desflurane patients, 41% experienced nausea compared to 12% of the propofol patients (P < .05). There was no significant difference between the recovery times of the two groups. Desflurane was more cost-effective than propofol. Although desflurane patients experienced more nausea, this did not affect their discharge time.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kurpiers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scharine
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lovell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000191:economics*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D000077335:Desflurane; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015742:Propofol / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D015742:Propofol