Research article
Cost analysis of two anaesthetic machines: "Primus®" and "Zeus®"
1 Department of Anaesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
2 Fachhochschule Nordhausen, Nordhausen, Germany
3 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
4 Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Support, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital, Harefield, London, UK
5 Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Therapy, University Hospital Dresden, Dresden, Germany
6 Department of Critical Care & Anaesthesia, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital, Harefield, London, UK
7 Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
BMC Research Notes 2012, 5:3 doi:10.1186/1756-0500-5-3
Published: 4 January 2012Abstract
Background
Two anaesthetic machines, the "Primus®" and the "Zeus®" (Draeger AG, Lübeck, Germany), were subjected to a cost analysis by evaluating the various expenses that go into using each machine.
Methods
These expenses included the acquisition, maintenance, training and device-specific accessory costs. In addition, oxygen, medical air and volatile anaesthetic consumption were determined for each machine.
Results
Anaesthesia duration was 278 ± 140 and 208 ± 112 minutes in the Primus® and the Zeus®, respectively. The purchase cost was €3.28 and €4.58 per hour of operation in the Primus® and the Zeus®, respectively. The maintenance cost was €0.90 and €1.20 per hour of operation in the Primus® and the Zeus®, respectively. We found that the O2 cost was €0.015 ± 0.013 and €0.056 ± 0.121 per hour of operation in the Primus® and the Zeus®, respectively. The medical air cost was €0.005 ± 0.003 and €0.016 ± 0.027 per hour of operation in the Primus® and the Zeus®, respectively. The volatile anaesthetic cost was €2.40 ± 2.40 and €4.80 ± 4.80 per hour of operation in the Primus® and the Zeus®, respectively.
Conclusion
This study showed that the "Zeus®" generates a higher cost per hour of operation compared to the "Primus®".
