Medication, equipment, and supply costs for common interventions providing extended post-surgical analgesia following total knee arthroplasty in US hospitals

Figures & data

Figure 1. Summary of equipment, supply, and medication costs of post-surgical analgesic interventions.

Table 1. Materials cost of post-surgical analgesic interventions.

InterventionItem required	Cost per item	Reference(s)
Single injection femoral nerve block
Bupivacaine 0.25%, 10 mL vial × 2	$3.22	Red Book^18
Ultrasound machine with linear transducer   (8–14 MHz)	$8.46	Liu and John^19
Ultrasound sterile sleeve	$0.89	GSA^21
Standard nerve block tray	$18.93	GSA^21
20-mL syringe	$0.38	GSA^21
50–100-mm, 22-gauge short-bevel insulated needle	$10.00	GSA^21
Total	$41.88
Continuous femoral nerve block
Ropivacaine 0.2%, 100 mL vial × 5	$193.15	Red Book^18
Ultrasound machine with linear transducer   (8–14 MHz)	$8.46	Liu and John^19
Ultrasound sterile sleeve and gel	$0.89	GSA^21
Continuous nerve block tray	$79.74	GSA^21
20-mL syringe	$0.38	GSA^21
50–100-mm, 22-gauge short-bevel   insulated needle	$10.00	GSA^21
On-Q pump, 400 mL with Select-a-Flow	$433.82	GSA^21
Immobilizer	$30.13	GSA^21
Total	$756.57
Periarticular infiltration
Bupivacaine 0.5% with epinephrine, 30 mL vial	$2.10	Red Book^18
Bupivacaine 0.25%, 50 mL vial	$2.89	Red Book^18
Morphine sulfate 10 mg/mL, 1 mL vial	$1.63	Red Book^18
Methylprednisolone 40 mg vial	$4.60	Red Book^18
Cefuroxime 750 mg vial	$3.06	Red Book^18
Normal saline, 25 mL vial	$1.20	Red Book^18
60-mL syringe × 2	$0.08	GSA^21
22G, 1.5” needle × 2	$0.82	GSA^21
Total	$16.38
Continuous epidural analgesia
Fentanyl 4 mcg/ml + ropivacaine 0.2%, 100 mL   bag × 4 bags	$249.36	Red Book^18
Epidural kit	$40.70	GSA^21
PCA extension set	$6.97	GSA^21
PCA pump	$107.28	Palmer et al.^17
Disposable EtCO2 cannula	$3.48	GSA^21
Capnography monitor	$46.05	Mohr et al.^20
Total	$453.84
Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia
Morphine 30 mg/30 mL pre-filled   cartridge × 1.9 cartridges	$15.16	Red Book^18; Palmer et al.^17
PCA pump	$107.28	Palmer et al.^17
PCA IV extension set	$6.97	GSA^21
Disposable EtCO2 cannula	$3.48	GSA^21
Capnography monitor	$46.05	Mohr et al.^20
Total	$178.94
Bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (BLIS)
BLIS vial, 20 mL (266 mg)	$314.95	Red Book^18
Bupivacaine 0.25%, 30 mL vial	$1.65	Red Book^18
Sodium chloride 0.9%, 100 mL vial	$1.98	Red Book^18
20-mL syringe	$0.38	GSA^21
22G, 1.5” needle	$0.04	GSA^21
Total	$319.00

Truven Health Analytics. Red Book Online. Available at: http://www.redbook.com/redbook/online/

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United States General Services Administration (GSA). Advantage! Online Shopping. Available at: https://www.gsaadvantage.gov

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Mohr NM, Stoltze A, Ahmed A, et al. Using continuous quantitative capnography for emergency department procedural sedation: a systematic review and cost-effectiveness analysis. Intern Emerg Med. 2016. doi: 10.1007/s11739-016-1587-3. [Epub ahead of print]

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