British journal of anaesthesia
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Review Meta Analysis
Influence of nitrous oxide added to general anaesthesia on postoperative mortality and morbidity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a common adjuvant to general anaesthesia. It is also a potent greenhouse gas and causes ozone depletion. We sought to quantify the influence of N2O as an adjuvant to general anaesthesia on postoperative patient outcomes. ⋯ PROSPERO CRD42023443287.
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Editorial Review
The safety of nitrous oxide: glass half-full or half-empty?
A systematic review of clinical trials confirms that including nitrous oxide in the gas mixture for general anaesthesia has minor short-term benefits and does not impact most patient safety outcomes. However, no risk-benefit analysis of nitrous oxide should ignore its known environmental effects. If continued nitrous oxide use is supported, strategies to minimise and monitor the contribution of medical nitrous oxide to global warming are vital.
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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.