The Gas Looks Greener on the Other Side: Using Novel Tech to Minimize Anesthesia Greenhouse Emissions

Abstract

Features| June 2023 The Gas Looks Greener on the Other Side: Using Novel Tech to Minimize Anesthesia Greenhouse Emissions Jane Ahn, MD; Jane Ahn, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Lesley A. Bennici, MD; Lesley A. Bennici, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Ana Costa, MD Ana Costa, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar ASA Monitor June 2023, Vol. 87, 24. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000938828.39877.b7 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jane Ahn, Lesley A. Bennici, Ana Costa; The Gas Looks Greener on the Other Side: Using Novel Tech to Minimize Anesthesia Greenhouse Emissions. ASA Monitor 2023; 87:24 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000938828.39877.b7 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsASA Monitor Search Advanced Search Topics: anesthetic gases, anesthetics, inhalation, desflurane, gases, isoflurane, professors, purchasing, schools, medical, sevoflurane, surgical procedures, operative Volatile hydrofluorocarbon anesthetics (sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane) and nitrous oxide are ubiquitous in perioperative anesthetic practice and are estimated to contribute between 0.01% to 0.1% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (BMJ 2022 8;377:o1301; asamonitor.pub/40kSYby). When used in clinical practice, volatile anesthetics undergo minimal metabolism in the body; an estimated 95% or greater of nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane are exhaled from the patient as waste anesthetic gases (WAGs). These WAGs are estimated to make up approximately 50% of perioperative GHG emissions, 5% of total hospital GHG emissions, and can account for 3% of national health care sector GHG emissions (BMJ 2022 8;377:o1301). While scavenging systems in ORs collect these WAGs to minimize occupational exposure, the collected medical waste gases remain chemically unaltered and are often subsequently vented into the atmosphere without further processing. Clinicians have an important role to play in mitigating... You do not currently have access to this content.