How much are patients willing to pay to avoid postoperative muscle pain associated with succinylcholine?
OBJECTIVE
To determine how much money patients are willing to pay to avoid postoperative muscle pains associated with succinylcholine.


METHODS
Observational study with survey instrument.


METHODS
University-affiliated metropolitan hospital.


METHODS
Eighty-eight adult patients, 43 men and 45 women, who were scheduled to undergo surgery with general anesthesia and who completed a preoperative questionnaire (median age range, 41-50 y; median income, US$45,000-60,000).


METHODS
Patients completed a computerized, interactive questionnaire preoperatively. They were asked about demographics and previous experiences with muscle pain and postoperative myalgia. With the use of the willingness-to-pay model, the value that they would be willing to pay for a hypothetical muscle relaxant that avoided postoperative myalgia was determined.


RESULTS
Eighty-nine percent of patients considered avoiding postoperative myalgia as important. Patients were willing to pay a median (interquartile range) of $33 ($19-$50) out of pocket for a muscle relaxant that was not associated with postoperative myalgia, a figure that increased to $40 if the insurance company paid for the drug (P < 0.0001). Willingness to pay was influenced by patients' income but not by prior experience with postoperative myalgia.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients consider avoidance of postoperative myalgia important and are willing to pay $33 out of pocket for a muscle relaxant that is not associated with this side effect.
Allen
Terrence K
TK
Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA. ticka98@btinternet.com
Habib
Ashraf S
AS
Dear
Guy L
GL
White
William
W
Lubarsky
David A
DA
Gan
Tong J
TJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000191:economics*; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D009657:North Carolina; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D026712:Value of Life / Q000191:economics
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D013390:Succinylcholine