A Cultural Shift: Implementing Reusable Anesthesia Circuits in United States (US) Pediatric Anesthesia to Address Supply Chain and Environmental Challenges
Authors' conclusion
Our experience demonstrates the feasibility of reusable anesthesia circuit use with appropriate protocols.
Study context
- Population
- Pediatric anesthesia care, US single institution (pediatric ambulatory surgery setting)
- Exposure
- Weekly reusable vs Daily reusable vs single-use disposable (SUD)
- Outcome
- Plastic waste reduction (estimated)
- Follow-up
- Per week
Methodological detailssingle-institution multi-site experience with survey, anonymous safety concern reporting, No full cost analysis or microbiologic studies performed
- Single-institution multi-site experience with survey
- Anonymous safety concern reporting
- No full cost analysis or microbiologic studies performed
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Weekly reusable vs SUD: plastic waste reduction per week
27.8 kg
84% reduction
Weekly reusable vs daily reusable: plastic waste reduction
17.5 kg
53% reduction
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Challenges to reusable circuit use (reporting and survey data)
- Supply chain constraints and water vapor buildup if circuits not properly drained
Safety
Safety of weekly reusable circuit changes (anonymous safety concern reporting) · October 2022 to January 2025
- Weekly reusable circuits with individual patient filters a safe alternative to daily changes or SUD circuits
Original publication
A Cultural Shift: Implementing Reusable Anesthesia Circuits in US Pediatric Anesthesia to Address Supply Chain and Environmental Challenges. Paediatr Anaesth. Published 19 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →