COST-EFFECTIVE SUPPLY USE IN PERMANENT CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER OPERATIONS

A prospective, randomized trial was designed to determine whether a st reamlined operating room supply pack was cost-effective in the placeme nt of permanent central venous catheters. Over a 12-month period, 139 consecutive patients were randomized and evaluated. There were no diff erences found between the mean ages, sex, indication for catheter plac ement, mean operative time, or surgeon and nurse satisfaction between treatment groups. In addition, 30-day catheter infection rate, 30-day catheter malfunction rate, and 30-day catheter removal rate were simil ar between groups. Supply costs were $411.32 per patient operation in the control group and only $180.34 per patient operation in the study group, resulting in an average cost-effectiveness ratio of $230.98 per catheter placed. Based on these data, a streamlined operating room su pply setup is cost-effective in the operative placement of permanent c entral venous catheters.