HONOLULU—The most ambitious study of its kind has found a significant reduction in volatile anesthesia-related greenhouse gas emissions between 2018 and 2024, a finding that correlates with a marked decrease in desflurane use. And while the researchers were encouraged by this finding, they noted that nitrous oxide (N2O) continues to be used in a high percentage of cases, sparking concern over its enduring greenhouse gas footprint.
“Climate change is affecting healthcare, but