[Computer simulation and pharmacoeconomics. Computer simulation as an aid for the analysis of operating room efficiency: an example]

In this study we compared operating room (OR) efficiency of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with remifentanil and propofol and balanced anaesthesia (BAL) with fentanyl and isoflurane in cataract surgery using computersimulation. We simulated patient flow for one OR and for three ORs. Time intervals of patient flow were randomly generated from the results of a prospective, randomized trial. Both for one and for three ORs, the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) finished earlier and one additional case per OR and per day could be performed when TIVA was used for the procedures. Overtime in the PACU was less after TIVA. With a workload of 13 or 15 operations per day in three ORs, monitoring equipment for an additional patient in the PACU was required when BAL was used. TIVA with remifentanil and propofol was associated with more OR efficiency than balanced anaesthesia with fentanyl and isoflurane when given for cataract surgery.