DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW ON A SURGICAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

Drug use reviews (DUR) provide information about drug prescription pat terns. At the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of the University Ho spital Frankfurt/Main we recorded the indication related administratio n of blood products and pharmaceuticals (which were responsible for 60 % of the total costs at the SICU in the year before) over a 4-month in vestigation period. Data were recorded and analyzed using a notebook-P C. 207 Patients were included, and recorded total expenditures came to $ 551,592. The 10 leading substances, represented by antibiotics and blood-products, caused more than 70% of total costs. The usage of thes e high-cost substances and the most expensive complications are identi fied and discussed. We concluded that DURs are useful for obtaining in formation about drug usage patterns and for identifying high cost drug s, which are of economic interest. Furthermore, the indications for th e application of these substances can be identified. Our results sugge st, that blood and blood-products should always be included in DURs. I n our opinion, especially the usage of blood-products represents a fie ld where considerable cost savings may be expected. As certain complic ations during the postoperative course (e.g. sepsis) may increase cost s, they should be considered in the reimbursement negotiations between hospitals and health insurance.