Anesthetic gases environmental impact, anesthesiologists' awareness, and improvement opportunities: a monocentric observational study.

This letter, published in the Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia & Critical Care, discusses the environmental impact of anesthetic gases (AG) and the awareness of anesthesiologists regarding this issue. The study found that AG accounted for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare systems. The researchers analyzed data from their university center and found that AG use did not decrease over the years, despite recommendations to consider alternative methods. They also conducted a survey among anesthesiologists and found that while most believed total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) could substitute AG in a significant number of cases, many were unaware of the environmental impact of AG. The study suggests that there is room for improvement in reducing AG use and increasing awareness among anesthesiologists. [Extracted from the article]