Cost analysis of two approaches to parenteral nutrition in critically ill children.

OBJECTIVE

In pediatric intensive care, two approaches to parenteral nutrition are available: individualized admixtures or commercial standard solutions. Even though individualized admixtures can be tailored to sometimes highly intricate requirements, standard solutions are able to meet the demands of the majority of pediatric patients. To address the growing importance of costs in intensive care, we investigated whether relevant differences between individualized admixtures and standard solutions in terms of costs can be found.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

University-affiliated intensive care unit.

PATIENTS

Fifty consecutively admitted pediatric patients requiring parenteral nutrition.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Comparison of actual costs of individualized admixtures and theoretical costs of standard solutions. Mean actual costs of individualized admixtures of Euro 81.78 (+/- 16.33) per patient and day were significantly higher than the theoretical costs of standard solutions of Euro 61.21 (+/- 6.55). Cost differences increased with patients' body weights.

CONCLUSIONS

Parenteral nutrition with standard solutions offers the potential of a relevant cost reduction compared with individualized admixtures in critically ill children.