Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of remifentanil-based general anesthesia: a survey of clinical economics under the Japanese health care system

作者：Nakada Takeo^*; Ikeda Daisuke; Yokota Miyuki; Kawahara Kazuo

来源：Journal of Anesthesia, 2010, 24(6): 832-837.

DOI：10.1007/s00540-010-1006-2

• Remifentanil
• Cost-effectiveness
• Clinical economics
• Fentanyl

Remifentanil has been available in Japan for 3 years. The use of this new opioid is considered a useful adjuvant to general anesthesia. Knowing the exact cost-effectiveness of remifentanil should lead to improved anesthetic outcomes with a reasonable cost.
This single-blinded, prospective, randomized study compared the cost of remifentanil-based general anesthesia combined with isoflurane, sevoflurane, or propofol with fentanyl-based conventional techniques in 210 women who underwent breast surgeries.
Remifentanil-based general anesthesia was no more expensive than fentanyl-based conventional anesthesia. Postoperative nausea and vomiting was significantly less frequent after remifentanil-based than fentanyl-based anesthesia.
This study shows that remifentanil-based general anesthesia is no more expensive than conventional fentanyl-based anesthesia under the Japanese health care system because of the small difference in price between remifentanil and fentanyl.

• 出版日期2010-12
• 单位中国医学科学院肿瘤医院