Would YOU accept less anesthetic during your operation to save the planet? - Daily Mail

Dr Mohamed Fayed, a senior anesthetist at the Henry Ford, said: 'Global warming is affecting our daily life more and more, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has become crucial.

As anesthesiologists, we can contribute significantly to this cause by making little changes in our daily practice — such as lowering the flow of anesthetic gas — without affecting patient care.'

Henry Ford Health System is now reducing the amount of anesthesia it uses in surgery in an effort to limit the hospital's impact on climate change (file photo)

Surgical anesthetics are made up of multiple chemicals, including nitrous oxide halothane, isoflurance, desflurance, sevoflurane.

The Henry Ford research team, which presented their findings at ADVANCE 2023, in Orlando, Florida, this week, explains that surgical anesthesia requires fresh gas at the start and end of procedures.

While it is safe in nearly all cases, too much anesthesia can deprive cells of oxygen and cause stroke, brain injury, coma or even death.