Protocol Implementation for Normothermia in Surgery Settings in Italy: Budget-Impact Analysis

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Health Economics
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) is a common, preventable risk during surgery, leading to adverse outcomes, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs.
• Despite being recognized as a preventable complication, IPH remains a challenge in anesthesia care.
• International guidelines and Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Reanimation, and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) recommendations advocate for proactive IPH prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the budget impact (BI) of implementing proactive strategies for preventing IPH in Italian surgical patients.
• To evaluate the economic consequences from the perspective of the Italian National Health Service (NHS).

Main Methods:

• A 3-year budget impact model was developed from the Italian NHS perspective.
• Model inputs were sourced from national and international literature, referencing the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidance 65.
• The analysis estimated changes in practice, including increased patient warming and potential shifts in medical device utilization.

Main Results:

• The implementation of proactive IPH prevention strategies is projected to decrease extra hospital stay days by 35%.
• A net budget impact of -€60.92 million was estimated over the 3-year period.
• The model also projected variations in patient warming rates and medical device costs.

Conclusions:

• Wider adoption of protocols for preventing IPH offers significant clinical advantages and considerable cost savings for the Italian NHS.
• The study strongly recommends the widespread implementation of these proactive strategies in Italian hospitals.
• Investing in IPH prevention is economically favorable and clinically beneficial for surgical patient care.