title: Evaluation of the impact of a prescribing guideline on the use of intraoperative dexmedetomidine at a tertiary academic medical center.
abstract: Objective:To evaluate usage patterns of dexmedetomidine in the operating room after implementation of a prescribing guideline.Methods:We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the impact of a prescribing guideline on usage patterns of dexmedetomidine in the operating room at a tertiary, academic medical center during one-month period pre- (July 2010) and post-guideline (July 2011 and July 2012) implementation.Results:A total of 267 patients received intraoperative dexmedetomidine during the study period. Dexmedetomidine use in surgical procedures decreased post-guideline implementation [5.7% (pre) vs. 1.9% and 3.3% (post)]. The most common guideline-based indication for intraoperative dexmedetomidine was for anesthesia during bariatric surgery (41% and 38% in 2011 and 2012, respectively). We estimated a cost-avoidance of $308,856 over the two-year period after guideline implementation.Conclusion:Our results suggest that implementation of a prescribing guideline for the use of dexmedetomidine in the operating room is feasible and associated with improved utilization patterns.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
authors.forename: Abdullah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alhammad
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
authors.forename: Nour A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Baghdady
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacy Service, University of Massachusetts, Commonwealth Medicine, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, United States.
authors.forename: Bonnie C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Greenwood