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Hollywood Private Hospital adopting ‘greener theatres’
Apr 21, 2022
Hollywood Private Hospital is making the switch to ‘greener theatres’ by using a more environmentally friendly anaesthetic gas.
Anaesthetists at Hollywood are phasing out the use of an anaesthetic gas called desflurane to help save the planet.
Instead, anaesthetists are using sevoflurane when preparing patients for surgery, because it has a much lower carbon cost.
Hollywood Private Hospital anaesthetist Chris Mitchell said some anaesthetic agents, such as desflurane, are environmental pollutants.
One canister of desflurane (240ml) is equivalent to 893kg of carbon dioxide. 1
“Desflurane has global warming potential, due to its ability to retain heat and its longevity in the Earth’s atmosphere,” Dr Mitchell said.
Dr Mitchell said fortunately there are some excellent alternatives to desflurane.
“Sevoflurane is 50 to 60 times less harmful to the environment than desflurane.2
Dr Mitchell and anaesthetist Laura Wisniewski have written an article called ‘Ditching desflurane – four steps to success’, which was published in the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ Autumn Bulletin.
Dr Mitchell said he hoped to raise awareness and educate doctors across Australia about the benefits of ditching desflurane.
Ramsay Health Care has been phasing out desflurane at its WA hospitals.
Ramsay Health Care National Environment Manager Sue Panuccio said Caring for Our Planet is one of the three pillars of Ramsay Health Care’s sustainability program.
“We acknowledge that climate change is a critical issue, so we are focused on minimising our greenhouse emissions,” Ms Panuccio said.
“It is part of Ramsay Health Care’s commitment to making a meaningful, positive difference for current and future generations.”
1 https://www.tra2sh.org/refuse-desflurane
2 Pierce T. Anaesthetic gases calculator. https://anaesthetists.org/ Home/Resources-publications/Environment/Guide-to-green- anaesthesia/Anaesthetic-gases-calculator (accessed 09/02/2022).
Hollywood Private Hospital anaesthetist Chris Mitchell with anaesthetic gas vaporisers containing Desflurane, which have been removed from anaesthetic machines.