| Abstract [eng] |
The field of anesthesiology plays a critical role in modern healthcare, ensuring patient safety and comfort during surgical procedures and in the intensive care unit. During the last decade, global climate change has become a major topic for the entire world and affects the world’s population severely. This paper examines the relationship between anesthesiology and global climate change, particularly focusing on the effect of inhalational anesthetic gases on the environment. Furthermore, it focuses on operating room practices and sustainability as well as adaptation strategies for anesthesiology practices. A literature review was performed using the PRISMA flowchart analyzing the effects of anesthesiology on global climate change. This overview highlights the importance of understanding the impact of inhalational gases, their carbon footprint, energy consumption in hospitals and waste generation among 64 references. Anesthesiology and global climate change share a connection which is multifaceted and highly relevant today. This literature review has explored the complex relationship between the two topics, revealing significant findings that emphasize the need for sustainable practices in healthcare. Key results include that the healthcare sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, desflurane and nitrous oxide are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials far exceeding that of carbon dioxide and should be replaced by different inhalational anesthetics such as sevoflurane. The implementation of low-flow anesthesia techniques and waste reduction strategies can further mitigate the environmental impact of anesthesiology. Findings highlight the urgent need for the community of anesthesiology to adopt more sustainable practices by implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce emissions and waste. |
