[Drug expenses from anesthesiologists].
OBJECTIVE
To assess expenses generated by prescriptions from anaesthesiologists in the operating theatre, recovery rooms, surgical intensive therapy units, postoperative care on surgical wards (digestive surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, obstetrics, paediatric surgery).


METHODS
Prospective study (one year) with evaluation of the costs induced by intravenous and volatile anaesthetics, morphinic and non morphinic analgesics, neuromuscular blocking agents, crystalloids, antibiotics, intravenous nutrient solutions, blood substitutes, anticoagulants, vitamins and vasoactive drugs.


RESULTS
The expenses resulting from these prescriptions reached the quarter of the total drug hospital budget. They were equally distributed between anaesthesia and intensive therapy units on the one hand and postoperative care on surgical wards on the other hand. Intravenous anaesthetic agents, antibiotics, crystalloids, represented each one more than 10% of the total cost.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the weight of prescriptions by anaesthesiologists in the hospital budget. At our hospital, it was mainly due to their activity outside the operating theatre, especially on surgical wards. Therefore anaesthesiologists are essential partners for the elaboration of a cost containment policy.
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Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, CHU Jean Verdier, université Paris XIII, Bondy, France.
Gourlot
C
C
Vermerie
N
N
Gorce
P
P
Pourriat
J L
JL
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000191:economics*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000191:economics*; D002017:Budgets; D016527:Drug Costs; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000191:economics; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics
D000777:Anesthetics