PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SEVOFLURANE VERSUS ISOFLURANE ANESTHESIAIN ELECTIVE AMBULATORY SURGERY

This study investigated the economic aspects of sevoflurane and isoflu rane anesthesia in 47 healthy women undergoing elective ambulatory sur gery, as part of a randomized, prospective clinical trial. Patient rec ords were analyzed for anesthetic; duration of surgery anesthesia, and recovery room stay; and associated charges. Sevoflurane is shorter ac ting than isoflurane, but it was not associated with a shorter duratio n of anesthesia or surgical unit stay, or earlier hospital discharge. Total charges associated with sevoflurane anesthesia were greater than those for isoflurane ($2641 and $2230, respectively) and primarily re lated to prolonged anesthesia and surgical unit stay. A minor decrease in recovery room charges ($15) associated with earlier discharge was observed with sevoflurane (p>0.05), but the agent was not associated w ith lower hospital charges. Larger trials and assessment of other pati ent populations may show sevoflurane to be more pharmacoeconomically a dvantageous than isoflurane.