Environmental and economic impact of sustainable anaesthesia interventions: a single-centre retrospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
Implementing sustainable anaesthesia interventions can significantly reduce the environmental impact and cost of anaesthesia.
Study context
- Population
- Anaesthesia cases at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, April 2021 to March 2023
- Exposure
- Initial phase vs Final phase
- Outcome
- Overall environmental impact (CO2 equivalents in kg per case)
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall environmental impact (CO2 equivalents, kg per case)
- 81% reduction in overall environmental impact, from median 3 (0-7) to 1 (0-3) kg CO2 equivalents per case
- P<0.0001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Costs (CHF per case)
- Costs (CHF per case): P<0.0001
Desflurane use
- Desflurane use eliminated after implementation of sustainability measures
Sevoflurane consumption (ml per case)
- Decreased from median (IQR) 25 (14-39) to 11 (6-22) ml per case
- P<0.0001
Propofol consumption (mg per case)
- Increased from 250 (150-721) to 743 (370-1284) mg per case
- P<0.0001
≥2 infusion syringes per case
- 62% of cases in the first quarter vs 74% in the last quarter
- P<0.0001
≥2 infusion lines per case
- 58% of cases in the first quarter vs 68% in the last quarter
- P<0.0001
Costs (CHF per case)
- Costs 11% lower in the final study phase vs the initial phase
Original publication
Environmental and economic impact of sustainable anaesthesia interventions: a single-centre retrospective observational study. Br J Anaesth. Published 4 January 2024. doi:10.
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