A NEW study conducted at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has demonstrated that educational measures and management decisions can significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from anaesthetic gases by over 80% in operating rooms.
Anaesthetic gases, particularly desflurane, are potent greenhouse gases with a climate impact far exceeding that of CO2. For instance, one kilogram of desflurane contributes nearly 8,000 times more to the greenhouse effect over a five-year period than the same amount of CO2. Recognising this issue, Charité implemented a series of measures starting in 2018 to address the environmental impact of their anaesthesia practices.
The study, published in Anesthesia & Analgesia, analysed data from 2015 to 2023 across three Charité campuses. Researchers examined the consumption of anaesthetics (sevoflurane, desflurane, isoflurane, and propofol) and calculated CO2 equivalent emissions. Educational interventions began in September 2018, including internal and external lectures, publications, and revisions to anaesthesia guidelines. The results were striking: CO2 equivalent emissions from volatile anaesthetics decreased by 90.3%, from a mean of 1,470 tons in 2015-2017 to just 142 tons in 2023. This reduction was primarily achieved by phasing out desflurane and increasing the use of propofol, sevoflurane, and regional anaesthesia techniques. Notably, the most rapid and sustainable changes occurred following internal top-down measures.
These findings have significant implications for clinical practice and environmental sustainability in healthcare. The study demonstrates that education and management decisions can effectively reduce the carbon footprint of anaesthesia without compromising patient care. In fact, patients experienced fewer side effects, such as nausea, with the new approach. Furthermore, the changes led to substantial cost savings, with annual expenditure on anaesthetic agents nearly halving between 2015 and 2023. As the healthcare sector grapples with its environmental impact, this study provides a blueprint for other institutions to implement similar measures, potentially leading to widespread reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from anaesthesia practices worldwide.
Katrina Thornber, EMJ
Reference
Schwiethal A et al, The power of education to reduce the carbon footprint of volatile anesthetics in clinical practice. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2025;DOI:10.1213/ANE.0000000000007375.
