Carbon footprint of anaesthesia pharmaceuticals and disposable products during Caesarean delivery: a single-centre prospective observational study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
Published on: January 27, 2010
Lisanne H J A Kouwenberg1, Melisa Demir2, Lisa van Bodegraven3
1Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Quality of Care, Global Health, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
The healthcare sector, particularly surgical care, is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to investigate the carbon footprint of anaesthesia during Caesarean delivery, considering the impact of disposable products and pharmaceuticals, to identify environmental hotspots.
Methods:
A prospective observational study was conducted in a Dutch tertiary hospital, based on 50 Caesarean deliveries between July and October 2025. The carbon footprint of anaesthesia pharmaceuticals and disposable products was calculated using estimated kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2-eq) from life-cycle assessment data and for pharmaceuticals using active pharmaceutical ingredients from life-cycle inventory data.
Results:
The mean carbon footprint of anaesthesia pharmaceuticals and disposable products was 5.6 kg CO2-eq per Caesarean delivery. Disposables accounted for 80% (4.5 kg CO2-eq) of the total footprint. The prepackaged neuraxial tray, syringes, and warming blanket were the largest contributors, and ∼4% of the impact stemmed from unused disposable products. Pharmaceuticals contributed 1.1 kg CO2-eq, with i.v. fluids, cefazolin, and i.v. paracetamol being the highest.
Conclusions:
Disposable products were the main contributor to the carbon footprint of anaesthesia during Caesarean delivery. Addressing unnecessary use of disposable products is an achievable goal for reducing emissions. In addition, minimising wasted pharmaceuticals or unused disposable products is important, given that they significantly amplify the carbon footprint without providing clinical benefit.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...