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Study reveals sustainable possibilities for veterinary anaesthesia
An online version of the study is available at Wiley.com
A recent study highlights the potential for conservative low-flow anaesthetic techniques

A study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP) has found that low flow anaesthetic techniques could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and financial expenditure in veterinary practices.

The study. “Sustainable veterinary anaesthesia: single centre audit of oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic consumption and comparisons to a hypothetical model”, considers the way in which anaesthesia delivered via a circle system, lowering fresh gas flows, can reduce the carbon footprint of veterinary practices. 

The study retrospectively reviewed records of one hundred consecutive anaesthetics from a typical week at the Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals, RVC, UK. The study included cases in which the anaesthetic had an accompanying record of the animals' bodyweight and all the five minute recordings of fresh gas flows and vaporiser settings for the duration of the anaesthetic. 

The anaesthetics in the study were reassessed to establish whether reductions could be made by utilising a conservative low-flow technique, and desflurane was swapped for an equipotent dose of sevoflurane when there was not a clear benefit to its use. 

Study author, Matt McMillan, said: “All inhaled anaesthetic agents are greenhouse gases and by reducing the fresh gas flows we use as much as possible, through the utilisation of rebreathing systems, we can reduce the amount of them released into the atmosphere. Ultra-low flow anaesthesia may not be achievable in many situations but this study demonstrates that, by adopting a simple conservative-low flow anaesthetic technique, practices which routinely use non-rebreathing systems should be able to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of anaesthesia.”

Commenting on the importance of the work, McMillan said: “We often don’t think of the environmental impact of veterinary practice, but it can be extremely wasteful. Just like in every other aspect of modern life, we have a duty to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to help slow climate change.”

The editor of JSAP, Nicola Di Girolamo, commented: “As veterinary professionals, we recognise the importance of protecting the environment and doing what we can to reduce our carbon footprint. This study was a good first step towards understanding the potential reductions in IAA consumption that can be made in veterinary practice.”

An early online version of the study is available at onlinelibrary.wiley.com It is open access and can therefore be freely accessed by anyone. 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.