[I can’t even…charles]
Inhalation anesthetic gas is a strong greenhouse gas, which is thousands of times stronger than carbon dioxide; • In most cases, there is no reason why regional or intravenous anesthesia cannot be safely used in its place
EUROPEAN SOCIAL OF SAFETY TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLECTUAL CARE (ESAIC)
A review to be presented at this year’s Euroanaesthesia Congress will address the environmental impact of inhaled anesthetic agents and how we can and should manage without them – or at least reduce their use. them massively. The presentation will be presented by anesthesiologist, Dr. Niek Sperna Weiland, University Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands, founder of the center’s Sustainable Healthcare Group.
All volatile anesthetics (gases) are potent greenhouse gases, with a global warming potential (GWP) of 440 to 6810 compared to carbon dioxide (CO2,) has a reference GWP of 1. Anesthesia sevoflurane has a GWP of 440, isoflurane 1800 and desflurane 6810. All very high. Methane, which is released from livestock around the world and other processes, has a GWP of 86 and Nitrous oxide (agricultural emissions, but is also used in anesthesia) of 289, and this gas has a lifetime of 289. extremely long atmospheric lifetime (about 120 years).
Dr Sperna Weiland explains: “Reducing emissions of these gases is a swift victory in combating climate change. “After use, these substances are released into the atmosphere and increased concentrations have been observed even in regions as far away as Antarctica and high in the Alps.”
There are a number of ways to reduce emissions, including ending the use of nitrous oxide, desflurane and isoflurane immediately, although effectively combining the only other available substitute (sevoflurane) and switching to other alternatives. other anesthetic modalities such as TIVA (general intravenous anaesthesia) and regional (spinal/epidural/nerve block); and also obtain volatile anesthetic from the exhaust gas pipeline. Dr Sperna Weiland explains: “It is also expected that a complete ban on desflurane, currently being prepared by the European Commission*, will come into force on 1 January 2026,” Dr. Sperna explains. Weiland explained.
He will explain that although some indications for inhaled anesthesia will remain, there is no reason why a patient cannot be converted to TIVA or regional anesthesia in most cases. “There is no evidence that volatile anesthesia results in more favorable outcomes for patients. That said, we cannot do without these inhaled agents. The most common indication is probably the need for continued pediatric mask anesthesia,”
He will also present Amsterdam UMC’s successful sevoflurane reduction campaign, which has seen the amount of canned medicine used annually fall by 70% from over 2500 per year to less than 1000. In line with the recommendations Previously, Amsterdam UMC also completely removed nitrogen oxides, desflurane and isoflurane.
This success was achieved when the hospital had not yet implemented capture and recycling technology. “In Amsterdam, we don’t collect and recycle, but we have reduced emissions by 70%. This seems to be as low as possible when you are effectively taking sevoflurane and switching to zone/TIVA. For the remaining 30%, capture and recycling will be the only option. While technology that can do this is hitting the market, there are still a number of regulatory issues with the marketing of recyclables that must be overcome before this can become widespread practice. cobble. “
Sperna Weiland will address the issue of overall energy use in operating rooms (ORs), explaining that “hospitals often don’t have any clear policies on this, and indeed the technology Energy savings only tend to be applied when operators are refurbished or entirely new hospitals are built. But as we have proven ourselves, you can really save a lot of energy by turning off most ORs in the evenings, overnights and weekends. In Amsterdam we save about 360,000 kWh per year by doing this”.
For waste materials, Amsterdam UMC applies a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ model. A lot of the material in the OR is thrown away unused just because it’s unpacked due to the protocol. “We are seriously looking at these protocols and also the suites that we use,” explains Dr. Sperna Weiland. Furthermore, we have developed a washable surgical hood that is being worked on this year. We will go from 100,000 disposable hoods to just 500 per year and save about 60% of our carbon footprint on hood usage. Finally, we implemented a full plastic packaging material recycling program across all of our operating rooms, recycling approximately 4000 kg per month. ”
He concluded: “Climate change has really been high on the agenda in many countries, in both developed and developing countries, especially in the last few years. Every sector must play its part in reducing harmful gas emissions and overall energy use. It is clear that much can be achieved with relatively little effort, such as massive reductions in the use of inhaled anesthetics and general energy-saving techniques. Some national and international policies may be required to target residual emissions, especially those related to our supply chain, but at Amsterdam UMC we have shown out what is possible with your own efforts first. ”
Dr. Niek Sperna Weiland, University Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands. Please send an e-mail with questions and interview requests. E) [email protected]
Alternative contact at Euroanaesthesia Media Center. Tony Kirby by Tony Kirby PR. T) +44 7834 385827 E) [email protected]
Notes to the editor
Dr. Sperna Weiland declares no conflicts of interest
This press release is based on a presentation at Euroanaesthesia 2022 in Milan, 13ME1 Reducing the Carbon Emission of Anesthesia, at 4:30 p.m. Milan time at Amber Room 7 on Saturday, June 4.
Since it is a foreword, there is no summary.
* Information on Desflurane ban: scheduled January 1, 2026. Reference: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52022PC0150see page 24.
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