Carbon Footprint of General, Regional, and Combined Anesthesia for Total Knee Replacements

ConclusionsAll anesthetic approaches had similar carbon footprints (desflurane and nitrous oxide were not used for general anesthesia). Rather than spinal being a default low carbon approach, several choices determine the final carbon footprint: using low-flow anesthesia/total intravenous anesthesia, reducing single-use plastics, reducing oxygen flows, and collaborating with engineers to augment energy efficiency/renewable electricity.Editor ’s PerspectiveWhat We Already Know about This TopicHealth care produces greenhouse gases both directly (electricity and gas) and indirectly from emissions associated with consumption of goods and servicesFor anesthesiologists to reduce their workplace carbon footprint, they must understand the sources and amounts of the greenhouse gases produced as they care for patients in the operating roomWhat This Article Tells Us That Is NewThe carbon footprint in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions associated with general anesthesia (n = 9), spinal anesthesia (n = 10), and combined (general and spinal) anesthesia (n = 10) for total knee replacement surgery in Melbourne, Australia, were similarSingle-use equipment, electricity for the patient air warmer, and pharmaceuticals were major sources of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions across all anestheticsSevoflurane was a significant source of the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of both general anesthesia and combined anesthesiaWashing and sterilizing reusable items contributed substantially to t...
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research