Propofol total intravenous anaesthesia carbon footprint compared to inhalational anaesthesia in small animals undergoing lung lobectomy

Background Climate change poses an increasing threat to both human and animal health. The provision of both human and animal healthcare is associated with high carbon emissions, and the use of volatile anaesthetic agents has been demonstrated to be particularly carbon intensive. In human healthcare, the use of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) has been demonstrated to generate less carbon emissions than inhalational anaesthetic techniques; however, this has not been assessed in the veterinary context. This retrospective study aimed to assess the carbon emissions associated with inhalational anaesthesia and propofol TIVA in client owned small animals undergoing lung lobectomy at a single University teaching hospital. Results Propofol TIVA was associated with significantly less carbon emissions than inhalational anaesthesia in patients that received the entirety of their anaesthetic via a single technique (p<0.0001). In patients that received a hybrid anaesthetic with portions of inhalational anaesthesia and portions of TIVA, TIVA again generated significantly less carbon emissions when compared to the inhalational portion (p=0.0005). Conclusions Where clinically appropriate TIVA should be considered as a less carbon intensive alternative to inhalational anaesthesia in veterinary small animal patients.