Wastage factor of intravenous infusions in a regional intensive care unit

The use and wastage of infusions of propofol and atracurium were studied over an eight‐week period in an intensive care unit. Four sources of wastage were apparent, three of which were avoidable. Cessation of therapy, often as a result of decisions made by medical staff on morning ward rounds, was the most important source of wastage (75.7 and 74.6 per cent of wastage of propofol and atracurium, respectively). Advance preparation of syringes was another source, particularly for atracurium, and intermittent short infusions accounted for 8.5 per cent of wastage of propofol. Alterations in unit practice for administration of propofol and atracurium could lead to financial savings (approximately 1.5 per cent of the annual expenditure on drugs by this unit) and greater financial savings would be expected if wastage reduction policies were applied to all infusions.