COST COMPARISON - A DESFLURANE-BASED VERSUS A PROPOFOL-BASED GENERAL ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUE

The purpose of this study was to compare the cost of a desflurane-base d with a propofol-based general anesthetic technique. Fifty ambulatory orthopedic surgery patients were randomly assigned to one of two grou ps. Premedication and induction of anesthesia were standardized in bot h groups. In Group I patients, anesthesia was maintained with a propof ol infusion and nitrous oxide-oxygen and in Group II patients, with de sflurane-oxygen. The techniques used were identical to those routinely used with these drugs by our practitioners. The actual drug acquisiti on costs for the maintenance periods were calculated and compared, as was the duration of the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay (Phase I + Phase II). The drug acquisition cost for the maintenance period of g eneral anesthesia with our desflurane-based technique was $11.24/h and for our propofol-based technique, $44.08/h. The length of PACU stay w as not significantly different in the two groups. In conclusion, maint enance general anesthesia with our desflurane technique was considerab ly less expensive than with our propofol technique. PACU stay was not increased using desfluane as opposed to propofol in our study. Desflur ane offers a cost effective alternative to propofol for ambulatory gen eral anesthesia.