VNJ Articlesanaesthesiacapnogramcapnographyfresh gas flowsustainable
29 September 2023
How to use capnography as part of environmentally sustainable anaesthesia efforts
Author Liza Ebeck RVN, NCert Anaesthesia, AVLM
Liza qualified in 2001 and has spent most of her career working in university referral hospitals, gaining specific experience in cardiology, anaesthesia, surgical nursing and theatre practice. She is currently a head nurse in a first opinion practice in Cheshire. Liza has a passion for achieving best practice pain management and sustainable anaesthesia, and enjoys lecturing in her specialisms online and in her practice group.
DOI: 10.56496/EITM9063
ABSTRACT A veterinary practice can improve its environmental sustainability in a number of ways,
including making changes to its consumable purchasing and waste management. Even anaesthesia can be made more environmentally sustainable. Nearly 3% of the NHS’s carbon footprint is attributed to anaesthesia. Recommendations to reduce this include the use of total intravenous anaesthesia techniques, to minimise inhalant use, and the use of low-flow fresh gas flow rates when using inhalant anaesthetics. Total intravenous anaesthesia has not been fully adopted n small animal general practice for a variety of reasons, including equipment costs and lack of familiarity with the technique. However, adjusting the way fresh gas low rates are applied – and using capnography to monitor the specific patient’s requirements for such – is something many practices could adopt at minimal cost and with little prior expertise.
Keywords capnography, anaesthesia, sustainable, fresh gas flow, capnogram
To cite this article: Ebeck, L. (2023) How to use capnography as part of environmentally sustainable
anaesthesia efforts. VNJ 38(4) pp34-40
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