SynthesisBMC anesthesiology2025
The economic burden of anesthetic-related adverse events: a systematic review and empirical analysis.
Synthesis in BMC anesthesiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Associations between protocol-related operational factors, MRI duration, and propofol exposure in pediatric MRI.Pediatric radiology · 2026Article
- Balancing peri-operative anaesthesia: Financial efficiency and quality surgical outcomes.Indian journal of anaesthesia · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWhile extensive evidence is available on the adverse events (AEs) related to agents used to perform general anesthesia and procedural sedation from a clinical standpoint, much less is known about their economic impact on healthcare systems. This study aims to fill this gap combining an umbrella review of systematic reviews and an economic empirical analysis.
methodsWe performed an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses identified through PubMed and Web of Science searches conducted through September 2024 to map the anesthetic agents for which quantitative data exist on the incidence of AEs in adult patients undergoing procedural sedation or general anesthesia in developed countries. Data were used to conduct a gross costing estimate of the economic burden of these agents, using the Italian healthcare system as a case study. This analysis was complemented by a systematic literature review aimed at identifying cost estimates of anesthetic-related complications.
resultsWe included 168 systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the umbrella review. The gross costing estimation suggested that intravenous anesthetics (specifically propofol, etomidate, ketamine) and dexmedetomidine are the agents with the highest complication costs to the Italian healthcare system. Cognitive disorders and delirium were the most expensive complications described in the 22 publications identified in the systematic literature review which focused on costs; however, there was major heterogeneity in cost estimates across countries. Moreover, the lack of data uniformity in the estimation methods impaired further comparisons across anesthetic agents.
conclusionAnesthetic-related complications costs are a crucial element that, together with clinical effectiveness, should drive adoption and reimbursement decisions. While this study identifies key AEs and estimates their costs, a major research gap still exists. Future research should improve the way such costs are estimated since direct costs of drugs and supplies to manage complications are by far lower than costs associated with nurses and physician labor, postponement of other surgical procedures, and intensive care unit admissions for monitoring or treating complications. Micro costing analyses are needed to improve the evidence available in this area.
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Registered trials
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