Dobutamine: a drug utilization evaluation.
During a recent fiscal year, a 243% increase in dobutamine costs--which were associated with increased drug use--was observed at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. As a result of this increase, a drug usage evaluation was concluded to determine: the indications for which dobutamine was being prescribed, whether or not dopamine could be used in place of dobutamine, and any anticipated cost savings realized by targeting dobutamine prescribing. Forty-six consecutive patients who were receiving dobutamine for hypotension, congestive heart failure, or decreased urine output were evaluated during a 3-month study period. The results indicated that dopamine could have been used as initial therapy in the majority of patients. In only 3 patients was dobutamine considered the drug of choice. Furthermore, the institution could have reduced drug costs by more than $50,000 if the use of dobutamine could have been reserved for its most appropriate indications.
D001900:Boston; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000188:drug therapy*