Health economics

A cost-effective analgesic that inspires confidence 

Health economics

Hospitals, ambulances, emergency or day surgery units all look for cost-effectiveness in the products they choose, as well as safety, efficacy, ease of use and efficiency. Even a small reduction in cost per case is economically significant.

Fast patient recovery is a clear advantage in most diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In this context the fact that the effects of ENTONOX wear off rapidly is of interest. In principle, the patient is completely recovered from a cognitive and psychometric viewpoint. This means, ENTONOX allows quicker turnover in an outpatient department or other clinical setting.

 

Enabling effective use of resources 

ENTONOX is easy to use and can be administered under the supervision of specially trained paramedics, nurses or midwives. This potentially lowers treatment costs by avoiding more resource-demanding options (1).

Faster patient turnround 

Patients may be discharged quicker, due to the rapid onset and offset of nitrous oxide/oxygen medical gas mixtures, thereby saving time and bed stay costs. Using ENTONOX during colonoscopy has been shown to be safe and effective compared to intravenous sedation techniques, with faster recovery, shorter discharge times, and reduced discomfort and nausea (2, 3, 4).

(1) Faddy SC, Garlick SR. A systematic review of the safety of analgesia with 50% nitrous oxide: Can lay responders use analgesic gases in the prehospital setting? Emerg Med J 2005; 22:901-908. Review.
(2) Saunders BP; Fukumoto M, Halligan S, Masaki T, Love S, Williams CB. Patient-administered nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation provides effective sedation and analgesia for colonoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc 1994; 40(4): 418-21.
(3) Lindblom A, Jansson O, Jeppsson B, Tornebrandt K, Benoni C, Hedenbro JL. Nitrous oxide for colonoscopy discomfort: a randomized double-blind study.Endoscopy 1994; 26(3):283-6.
(4) Notini-Gudmarsson AK, Dolk A, Jakobsson J, Johansson C. Nitrous oxide: a valuable alternative for pain relief and sedation during routine colonoscopy.Endoscopy 1996; 28(3):283-7.

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