Continuous Femoral Nerve Block versus Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia for Patients Undergoing Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Cost-Utility Analysis

Abstract

Continuous femoral nerve block versus patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty: a cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-utility analysis. J Anesth Perioper Med 2016; 3: 160-170.Background: In order to relieve pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) and continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) are commonly used for postoperative analgesia. Nowadays, anesthesiologists are more and more interested in reducing patients'financial burden while providing effective analgesia. Therefore, this study investigated the cost-effectiveness and costutility of CFNB versus PCIA for patients undergoing unilateral TKA. Methods: Patients were randomly divided into CFNB group and PCIA group. Ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block was performed for CFNB group, and PCIA was used in the other group. The effects of analgesia during hospital stay, pain intensity and knee function at 6 months after discharge were evaluated. The cost of analgesia, direct medical cost, indirect cost, total cost, cost-effectiveness ratio, cost-utility ratio, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated.