Effects Of Surgery On A Warming Planet: Can Anesthesia Go Green?

Dr. Brian Chesebro (right), in Portland, Ore., has calculated that by simply using the anesthesia gas sevoflurane in most surgeries, instead of the similar gas desflurane, he can significantly cut the amount of global warming each procedure contributes to the environment.

Anesthesia revolutionized surgery by vanquishing patients’ pain. But many of the chemicals are greenhouse gases. One Oregon doctor who has done the math says some are much less damaging to the planet.

(Image credit: Kristian Foden-Vencil/OPB)

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