Document resource
Background and Aims Inhaled anesthetic agents, particularly desflurane, sevoflurane, and nitrous oxide (N 2O), are among the leading contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in hospital settings due to their high global warming potential (GWP) and minimal metabolic degradation. Their atmospheric persistence further exacerbates their environmental burden.Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of anesthetic gas usage between 2015 and 2025 across two Belgian university hospitals. Volumes were extracted from institutional pharmacy databases and converted to carbon dioxide equivalents (CO 2e) using IPCC-based GWP coefficients. A targeted awareness intervention was issued in April 2025 to all anesthesia staff via a departmental communiqué. Time-series and inter-period comparisons were performed using nonparametric and parametric statistics.Results Over the study period, cumulative anesthetic gas emissions totaled 14.49 million kg CO 2e. N2O represented 82.9% of emissions (≈12 million kg CO2e), followed by sevoflurane (≈1.0 million kg) and desflurane (≈0.43 million kg). Desflurane emissions fell from 48,464 kg CO2e in 2016 to zero in 2024 (p < 0.001), reflecting complete institutional withdrawal. Despite gas control measures, sevoflurane emissions remained stable (median ≈98,725 kg/year). April 2025 showed a significant reduction in mean emissions per surgical case (8.18 kg CO2e/case) versus April 2024 (9.43 kg/case, p = 0.00013) and March 2025 (8.90 kg/case, p = 0.006), indicating a rapid behavioral shift post-awareness campaign.Abstract EP208 Figure 1‘Effect of awareness on anesthetic gas emissions’Abstract EP208 Figure 2‘Annual CO2-equivalent emissions (kg) from desflurane between 2015 and 2024’Abstract EP208 Figure 3‘Annual CO2-equivalent emissions (kg) from nitrous oxide between 2015 and 2024’Conclusions The study demonstrates that targeted institutional actions—such as desflurane withdrawal, restricted access to N 2O, and focused awareness efforts—can lead to substantial reductions in the carbon footprint associated with anesthetic practice. These findings support the integration of environmental sustainability into anesthetic governance and reinforce the critical role of clinician engagement in achieving climate-conscious healthcare.