Economic evaluation of Viaflex (R) with vial adapter in a unit-dose drug distribution system

The cost of parenteral admixtures has an important impact on the hospital b udget. Recently, a Viaflex(R) with vial adapter (named 'minibag plus' in so me countries) has been commercialized in order to facilitate parenteral adm ixture preparation. In the present study a preparation using Viaflex(R) wit h a vial adapter has been economically compared with a preparation with a t raditional Viaflex(R) (without adapter) in a centralized unit or in nursing wards in a unit-dose drug distribution system. A cost-analysis was conduct ed from the hospital point of view. Direct costs were considered: these inc luded supplies and human resources. Differences in the whole process betwee n the two types of Viaflex(R) were analysed. The process included: purchasi ng, reception, storage, medical order record, preparation in the Pharmacy S ervice (PS), delivery from the PS to the nursing unit, preparation by the n urse, return of unused material to the PS. Human resource costs were estima ted by time counting and multiplying by the average salary. To estimate was ted material, drug and supplies delivered from the PS and returned to the P S were counted during 26 days. With the new Viaflex(R) costs are reduced by 30% in comparison with drug dilution using the traditional Viaflex(R) in a centralized unit of the PS, and by 13.4% in comparison with preparation wi th the traditional Viaflex(R) in the nursing ward. In addition it can be es timated that contamination risk with the new Viaflex(R) is lower than prepa ration in the nursing ward with the traditional Viaflex(R). Therefore, owin g to its lower cost we recommend the use of Viaflex(R) with vial adapter fo r drug dilution for those vials that are compatible with the system.