Ready-to-use injection preparations versus conventional reconstituted admixtures: economic evaluation in a real-life...

To measure, in a real-life setting, the benefits of using ready-to-use (RTU) injection preparations compared with conventional reconstituted admixtures (Admix) in terms of cost savings. DESIGN AND PERSPECTIVE: An economic model was developed, based on a randomised study. The perspective of the economic evaluation was that of the hospital administration. A microcosting approach was used to determine costs.

Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Charleroi University Hospital in Belgium.

Fifty-eight patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were randomised to Admix dobutamine or to the RTU dobutamine group and were followed up during 24 hours after initiation of dobutamine therapy.

Nursing time was reduced by 32% in the RTU group compared with the Admix group. Material cost was also reduced and the overall cost savings in the RTU group amounted to a 60% reduction in the cost of the conventional Admix process (p<0.001). When drug cost was included in the equation, cost savings varied from 1.60 euros (EUR) to EUR21.40 per patient depending on dosage. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of safety and efficacy. A user satisfaction survey showed that medical staff especially welcomed improved ease of preparation and potential for prevention of errors and risks of handling.

This study confirmed the potential for RTU forms to reduce nursing time associated with preparation and administration of intravenous admixtures and to enable overall cost savings.