Background Due to a shortage of an infusion set used at the hospital which lasted for several months, an evaluation was needed to substitute the medical device (MD). Different alternatives were available on the market with the same quality as the original MD but at a greater cost. The only option which had more quality benefits was the Intrafix Safeset; therefore, an analysis was necessary to evaluate quality and costs compared with the existing MD. The device was evaluated by a multidisciplinary committee (CTA), including pharmacists and nurses, created to decide on the introduction of new MDs to the hospital formulary.

Purpose The objective of the work was a technical–economic analysis of the Intrafix Safeset infusion set for hospital formulary inclusion.

Material and methods The CTA multidisciplinary committee evaluated the MD Intrafix Safeset comparing it with the previous infusion set in terms of: declared quality (data sheet and literature data), usability and management impact (practical tests in 3 different wards) and economic impact (consumption analysis and costs of infusion sets, infusion pumps, flow controllers and costs for disposal over a 4 month period).

Results Declared advantages (quality and safety) of the Intrafix Safeset were confirmed by literature data; practical tests showed higher safety and saving time perceptions associated with the Intrafix Safaset due to the closed system and the presence of ‘Airstop’ and ‘Primestop’ systems as well. However, safety perception was present only after training courses. Consumption analysis showed reduction of the use of infusion sets (6%), infusion pumps (8.8%) and flow controllers (7.5%) when Intrafix Safeset was used. These reductions were associated with: lower consumption of flow controllers, lower replacement of infusion sets and more therapy switches from infusion pumps to infusion sets. The total costs during the 4 month period that Intrafix Safeset was used resulted in +4% which became −2% when stretched over 1 year.

Conclusion The hospital based health technology assessment through a multidisciplinary team demonstrated the economic sustainability of the Intrafix Safeset MD and enabled hospital formulary inclusion of a higher quality and safer device.

No conflict of interest