• E M Kurpiers, J Scharine, and S L Lovell.
• AANA J. 1996 Feb 1;64(1):69-75.

AbstractThis study compared the costs of desflurane and propofol as maintenance anesthetic agents in outpatient surgery. Recovery time and related drug expenses were included in the cost comparison. Fifty-three ASA physical status I and II patients were randomly assigned to receive a maintenance anesthetic of either desflurane with 50% nitrous oxide or propofol with 50% nitrous oxide. All patients received a propofol induction and were administered narcotics, sedatives, muscle relaxants, reversal agents, and antiemetics as determined necessary by the anesthesia provider. The mean propofol cost was $31.88 +/- 14.44, whereas, the mean desflurane cost was $12.99 +/- 7.61 (P < .05). The mean cost of all medications, anesthetics, and ancillary agents included was $57.97 +/- 20.22 for the propofol group and $34.86 +/- 14.13 for the desflurane group (P < .05). Of the desflurane patients, 41% experienced nausea compared to 12% of the propofol patients (P < .05). There was no significant difference between the recovery times of the two groups. Desflurane was more cost-effective than propofol. Although desflurane patients experienced more nausea, this did not affect their discharge time.

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