British journal of anaesthesia
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This review summarises the current evidence for the perioperative preparation in children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), including COVID-19 infection. URTI, including COVID-19 infection, are common and frequent in children who present for elective surgery. Children with URTI are at increased risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events. ⋯ These risk factors work synergistically to determine individual patient risk and allow for risk stratification both clinically and with validated scoring systems. Evidence-based optimisation of modifiable respiratory risk factors can reduce the risk of perioperative bronchospasm. The evidence for the anaesthesia management options, including the timing and setting of surgery, experience of the paediatric anaesthetist, premedication, choice of airway device, choice of agent for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, and deep vs awake tracheal extubation techniques along with a risk stratification framework are discussed.
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Review
Mitigating the systemic loss of nitrous oxide: a narrative review and data-driven practice analysis.
Given the negative health impacts of climate change, clinicians have a fundamental responsibility to take an active role in mitigating the environmental impact of their practices. Inhaled anaesthetics are potent greenhouse gases, including nitrous oxide (N2O), with their long atmospheric lifetime, high global warming potential, and ozone-depleting properties. However, few clinicians realise that losses from central N2O supply systems account for the vast majority of overall N2O consumption in healthcare. ⋯ To date, this mitigation initiative has been successfully implemented at over 25 hospitals in our system. Raising awareness of this considerable source of healthcare-specific N2O emissions empowers clinicians to spearhead facility-level engagement and action. As healthcare leaders, clinicians should advocate for decarbonisation of clinical practices and systems while ensuring high-quality patient care.
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Editorial Review
Towards sustainability of volatile anaesthetics: capture and beyond.
The first measures to reduce the environmental harm from volatile anaesthetics are implementation of minimal fresh gas flow strategies and avoidance of desflurane. Although anaesthetic waste gas capture systems generally exert high capturing efficiencies, only about half of volatile anaesthetics used in the operating room are accessible for capture. Industry-sponsored reports promise a reduction of the global warming potential by both incineration and recycling of captured volatile anaesthetics. However, independent high-quality peer-reviewed studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Nitrous Oxide Manifold and Other Reduction of Emissions (NoMoreGas): a multicentre observational study evaluating pre-utilisation loss of nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to the healthcare sector's carbon footprint. Pre-utilisation losses of N2O are up to 95%. Decommissioning manifolds can reduce these losses. ⋯ Consistent with other reports, the data demonstrate a substantial discrepancy between the quantities of N2O procured and utilised clinically, indicative of significant pre-utilisation losses. Our findings support the decommissioning of N2O manifolds for environmental and economic benefits.
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Observational Study
Environmental and economic impact of sustainable anaesthesia interventions: a single-centre retrospective observational study.
Anaesthesia contributes substantially to the environmental impact of healthcare. To reduce the ecological footprint of anaesthesia, a set of sustainability interventions was implemented in the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. This study evaluates the environmental and economic implications of these interventions. ⋯ Implementing sustainable anaesthesia interventions can significantly reduce the environmental impact and cost of anaesthesia.