TO THE EDITOR: Given the recognition by the Journal of the urgent need to achieve “net-zero health care,” it is disappointing that low-carbon management options were not mentioned in the recent review by Mosnaim regarding asthma in adults. Asthma management is a carbon hotspot and an important target [...]
Pharmaceuticals account for 19–32% of healthcare greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Paracetamol is a common perioperative analgesic agent. We estimated GHG emissions associated with i.v. and oral formulations of paracetamol used in the perioperative period. Life-cycle assessment of GHG emissions (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents CO2e) [...]
Health care is a major contributor to climate change, and critical care is one of the sector’s highest carbon emitters. Health economic evaluations form an important component of critical care and may be useful in identifying economically efficient and environmentally sustainable strategies. The purpose of [...]
Correction: Intensive Care Medicine https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-023-07256-9 The original article has been corrected. The Authors apologize for the mistake. In the second paragraph of the second page, the first sentence “When using chemical sterilisation, such as ethyleneoxide gas or glutaraldehyde solution for bronchoscopes, reusable equipment will typically always [...]
Mask induction of anesthesia for pediatric patients has included the use of nitrous oxide since the inception of pediatric anesthesia. However, the use of nitrous oxide precludes adequate preoxygenation. Additionally, pediatric physiology (less Functional Residual Capacity, higher oxygen consumption), increased risk of laryngospasm and lack [...]
A shift in practice by anaesthetists away from anaesthetic gases with high global warming potential towards lower emission techniques (e.g. total intravenous anaesthesia) could result in significant carbon savings for the health system. The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to understand anaesthetists’ perspectives [...]
Many clinicians, concerned about climate change, have focussed their attention onto single-use medical items, given the large amounts of waste they produce. Since the 1990s, the use of single-use items has swelled due to infection control concerns, especially due to the emergence of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob [...]
Nitrous oxide is a useful inhaled analgesic. Due to its high global warming potential and ozone-depleting properties, the nitrous oxide emissions related to health care are being increasingly scrutinized. In this narrative review, we will discuss the clinical uses of nitrous oxide relevant to anesthetists, [...]
Clinical activity accounts for 70–80% of the carbon footprint of healthcare. A critical component of reducing emissions is shifting clinical behaviour towards reducing, avoiding, or replacing carbon-intensive healthcare. The objective of this systematic review was to find, map and assess behaviour change interventions that have [...]
The stewardship of networks, strategic target selection, adoption of communications best practices, and development of compassionate team environments can help the health community learn to treat the climate crisis together. A coordinated approach has the potential to shift practice, finance, and power to transform the [...]