Patient Safety and Cost-effectiveness of General Anaesthesia

Patient safety and cost-effectiveness are two frequently discussed topics in anaesthesiology. Recent conditions in the Hungarian health sector increasingly call for more cost-effective procedures and products without compromising patient safety. The task of the anaesthetist is to ensure adequate and safe environment for the patient during the operation in such a way that he/she supports and supplements the surgeon’s work. The cost indicators of anaesthesiologic activities are always high within an institute, so the cost-effective management of narcosis (e.g. applying cost-effective procedures, and cost-effective medicine use) and the perioperative treatment are of paramount importance. The ethical and legal principles are also shall be observed when expenses are planned - the patient’s safety and the patient’s rights shall not be infringed. These also should be taken into consideration when operating procedures for cost-reduction purposes are developed