New Delhi: Hospitals can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and cut costs of surgery by simply changing the type of anaesthesia they use, found a recent study.
The study, led by researchers in the US, was presented at the Anesthesiology 2026 annual meeting held from 16 to 20 October in San Diego. The findings suggested that average emissions associated with anaesthetic agents fell by 45 per cent after clinicians switched to “greener” options. They added that less polluting alternatives did not compromise on the patient’s safety or health.
“Our findings show that hospitals can take meaningful steps to reduce the environmental impact of surgery without compromising safety or quality. By making practical changes in anaesthetic selection, reducing waste and giving anaesthesiologists clear feedback, we reduced emissions and costs while maintaining strong patient outcomes,” lead author Etta Hanlon, researcher at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, said in a statement.
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Greener anaesthesia
Healthcare is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the inhaled anesthetic gases, especially desflurane and nitrous oxide, can trap heat in the atmosphere, increasing the carbon footprint of operating rooms in the long run.
However, researchers found that greener anaesthesia does not need expensive technology. The “six-site” academic health system, involving a network of six clinical, hospital, or medical centre facilities tied to a university or medical school, found that sevoflurane and intravenous anesthesia reduced harmful anaesthesia and minimised waste.
The network of hospitals and facilities around the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine compared anaesthesia use, estimated emissions, cost of surgery from 2021 with their newer practices from January 2022 to October 2025, and they found that total emissions fell from 57.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (a measure of climate impact), to 31.6 kilograms after the intervention per anesthetic intervention.
By late 2025, the health system surpassed its goal of reducing emissions by 50 per cent. Spending on inhaled anesthetics fell from $628,588 in 2021 to $379,010 in 2024, nearly 40 per cent savings.
“Patients shouldn’t have to choose between environmentally responsible healthcare and safe, high-quality care. These are changes health systems and clinicians can make behind the scenes, allowing patients to benefit from more sustainable care without having to do anything differently,” Sara Wohlford, director of sustainability at Carilion Clinic, said in a statement.