Cost analysis of xenon anesthesia: a comparison with nitrous oxide-isoflurane and nitrous oxide-sevoflurane anesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cost of xenon (Xe) anesthesia in relation to the anesthetic duration by conducting a cost analysis of this relatively expensive inhaled anesthetic.


METHODS
Cost analysis based on the literature on Xe anesthesia.


METHODS
Anesthetic simulation based on data obtained in the operating rooms at a university hospital.


METHODS
A 40-year-old, ASA physical status I adult patient model weighing 70 kg, undergoing elective minor surgery with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.


METHODS
Anesthesia was given in the following four techniques: 1) closed-circuit technique with Xe; 2) closed-circuit technique with nitrous oxide (N2O)-isoflurane; 3) semi-closed technique with N2O-isoflurane; and 4) semi-closed technique with N2O-sevoflurane.


RESULTS
Cost of each anesthetic technique was compared in U.S. dollars. The cost of Xe anesthesia was consistently higher than that of N2O-isoflurane or N2O-sevoflurane (for 240-min anesthesia; $356 with Xe, $52 with closed-circuit N2O-isoflurane, $94 with semi-closed N2O-isoflurane, and $84 with semi-closed N2O-sevoflurane). The major cost of Xe anesthesia was a result of the cost of priming and flushing; the cost of Xe used for its anesthetic effects was comparable with the other semi-closed techniques after 240 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
For Xe to be widely used in routine anesthesia, the methods of minimizing the amount of Xe necessary for priming and flushing must be developed.
Nakata
Y
Y
Department of Anesthesia, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan. ynakata@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Goto
T
T
Niimi
Y
Y
Morita
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000191:economics*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000191:economics*; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000191:economics*; D018803:Models, Economic; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000191:economics*; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013997:Time Factors; D014978:Xenon / Q000191:economics*
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D014978:Xenon; D007530:Isoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide