THE COST‐EFFICIENCY OF INCENTIVE SPIROMETRY AFTER ABDOMINAL SURGERY

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This report gives the results of a cost‐efficiency analysis of a prospective longitudinal study cvaluating two forms of prophylaxis against postoperative pulmonary complications in 876 patients undcrgoing abdominal surgery. It cost $12.19 per patient for conventional chest physiotherapy, and equivalent costs accrue when incentive spirometers are recycled and used on average 2.3 times (in the Royal Perth Hospital, incentive spirometers are recycled an average of 4.7 times). Maximum cost‐containment can be achieved by carefully selecting patients for physical chest care and then instigating a programme of peri‐operative chest care utilizing recycled incentive spirometers. This approach does not compromise the clinical benefits of prophylactic chest care and allows physiotherapy resources to be directed toward patients with established pulmonary problems.