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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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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.