Project SPRUCE: Saving Our Planet by Reducing Carbon Emissions, a Pediatric Anesthesia Sustainability Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors' conclusion
Large systems changes, such as eliminating desflurane, limiting access to nitrous oxide, and changing default anesthesia machine FGF rates, were associated with rapid and lasting emissions reduction.
Study context
- Population
- All anesthetics administered in the operating rooms of a pediatric hospital and ambulatory surgical center, October 2017 to October 2022
- Comparison
- Emission-reduction strategies over time
- Outcome
- Average kg CO 2 e/min
Methodological detailssingle-centre, statistical process control charts, before-after
- Single-centre
- Statistical process control charts
- Before-after
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
GHG emissions from inhaled anesthesia agents · 5-year period
Reduction in measured GHG emissions from inhaled anesthesia agents
87%
Further findings
Average CO 2 e in shorter cases (<30 minutes duration)
- Shorter cases had 3 times higher average CO 2 e
- Likely due to higher FGF and nitrous oxide use with inhalational inductions, and more mask-only anesthetics
CO 2 e after removing desflurane vaporizers
- Reduction of CO 2 e
- >50%
Emissions after decrease in default anesthesia machine FGF
- Similarly robust emissions reduction
Emissions after education, clinical decision support alerts and real-time data feedback
- Another significant decrease in emissions
Original publication
Project SPRUCE: Saving Our Planet by Reducing Carbon Emissions, a Pediatric Anesthesia Sustainability Quality Improvement Initiative. Anesth Analg. Published 5 May 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →