ASSESSMENT OF THE ANESTHETIC ACTIVITY IN THE OPERATING-ROOM USING THERCI-BETA INDEX

Objective:To evaluate the anaesthetic activity in the operating rooms using the newly reconstructed RCI beta, or relative cost index beta, a specific tool for analysis of anaesthetic activity and the linked cos t, Study design: Prospective multicentric survey, Methods: All schedul ed anaesthetic procedures performed in March 1995 were collected. RCI beta items were entered in a standardized data base, Gender, age group , lime of admission to the operating room, time of incision, time of e xit from the operating room, and the code number of the surgical or ra diological procedure were added on request of the steering committee, Results: Complete responses were obtained from 35 out of the 37 contac ted departments. A total of 31,391 procedures were analysed, Only 14% of patients were of ASA class over 2, Anaesthetic practices were compa rable between institutions. Only the incidence of special circumstance s and techniques was higher in University hospitals. General anaesthes ia was the most widely used technique (76.58%), A large proportion (19 %) of anaesthetics were given for endoscopy and radiology. More than 8 7% of patients were monitored postoperatively in recovery areas, There was a lower correlation between the theoretical standard duration and median actual duration of the perioperative period than the operative period (r = 0.54 vs r = 0.81), Discussion: Part of our activity could be described with RCI beta, The obtained data allow a comparison of a naesthetic activity in the operating rooms of different hospitals, dep artments and units, Further analysis of these data will also provide i nformation about the types of surgical procedures and the level of glo bal activity.