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'High-Tech' Cost-effectiveness

Rocco Orlando, III, MD

Arch Surg. 1986;121(4):470-471.

Abstract
• Mixed venous oxygen saturation (Svo₂) provides a measure of cardiorespiratory ability to meet the body's needs for oxygen. The Svo₂ was measured continuously in 20 critically ill surgical patients using a pulmonary-artery oximetry system. The accuracy of the technique was validated by comparing initial continuous Svo₂ to the laboratory determination of Svo₂. Oximetry was used to guide therapeutic decisions regarding fluid, inotropic agents, vasodilators and ventilator setting and was useful in ten cases. Sepsis developed in nine patients; this severely limited the usefulness of the technique. With clinical decision making based on oximetry, there was a savings per catheter of 2.65 cardiac output determinations and 5.9 venous blood gas determinations, resulting in a net savings per catheter of $75.

(Arch Surg 1986;121:470-471)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Surgery, Hartford (Conn) Hospital and University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 3, 1986.

Read before the 66th Annual Meeting of the New England Surgical Society, Dixville Notch, NH, Oct 11, 1985.

Reprint requests to Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06115 (Dr Orlando).

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