Getinge is driving sustainability in operating theatres and is calling on NHS hospitals to prioritise anaesthetic gas reduction and recycling, through innovative approaches.
Volatile anaesthetic agents are powerful greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere during every procedure. Reducing their use is therefore an urgent ecological priority. One increasingly popular and innovative strategy is the recycling of anaesthetic gases. But why does it still make sense to prioritise reduction over recycling – and how can this be achieved safely and effectively using low-flow anaesthesia?
Time to act
Volatile anaesthetics are responsible for up to 35% of a hospital’s greenhouse gas emissions,1 making them a significant environmental concern. While the average individual emits about 11 tonnes of CO2 per year, anaesthetists reach occupational emission levels of up to 17.1 tonnes per person annually.2 For example, during a 7-hour procedure with a fresh gas flow of 2 litres per minute, the use of highly polluting agents like desflurane or nitrous oxide can result in a carbon footprint equivalent to driving from Norway to South Africa.3,4
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