Greener anesthesia could cut OR emissions by half and lower drug costs 40%

Medical Xpress reports that hospitals can halve operating‑room emissions by adopting greener anesthesia practices 1. Medical Xpress reports that these practices can reduce anesthetic drug costs by nearly 40% 1. Medical Xpress reports that the changes do not compromise patient safety or quality of care 1. Medical Xpress reports that the findings were presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting and were led by Etta Hanlon of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine 1.

Why it matters. Medical Xpress notes that hospitals could achieve significant climate and cost benefits without affecting outcomes, offering a practical path for healthcare sustainability 1.