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Photo courtesy of Northern Light Health

Photo courtesy of Northern Light Health

BREWER — Northern Light Health has eliminated the use of the anesthetic gas desflurane in all of its hospitals, an important step as Northern Light aims to cut its carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

BREWER — Northern Light Health has eliminated the use of the anesthetic gas desflurane in all of its hospitals. This is an important step as Northern Light aims to cut its carbon emissions in half by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Desflurane has a global warming potential 2,500 times greater than carbon dioxide and has been regularly used as an anesthetic in Northern Light’s operating rooms for decades. Instead, alternative anesthetics such as sevoflurane are used that are just as effective and safe for patients. Desflurane is also the most expensive of the inhalation anesthetics, so eliminating it offers both cost savings and environmental benefits.

“This change will not only save us nearly $50,000 annually, but will also reduce our annual emissions by an estimated 408 tons of CO.₂ “We are especially grateful for our commitment and their leadership on this important issue,” said Tim Doak, Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer.

With this milestone, Northern Light Health joins a growing number of healthcare organizations around the world committed to reducing emissions associated with anesthesia. Phasing out the use of desflurane is one of many ways Northern Light plans to take a leadership role in providing high-quality, environmentally sustainable patient care to the people of Maine. For more information about environmental sustainability initiatives at Northern Light Health, visit https://northernlighthealth.org/sustainability.