I seem to recall a conference over ten years ago where the topic of capturing gases in the WAGD exhaust prior to venting outdoors was briefly discussed. The purpose of this was to minimize possible greenhouse gas contributions.

Does anyone have any experience or notes to share on this? One of my customers is talking about eliminating the piped N2O system for this reason. Before I take the meeting I want to see if there is another option to consider.

Thanks

Bob

There is a huge push to eliminate the piped N20 systems across the country.. I do not know how accurate the studies are but, some folks out west have determined that more than 80% of N20 used is "leaked through the piped system" before it ever gets to the patient??  At least that is what is being told to anesthesia groups. 

I am currently in the process of decommissioning all piped N20 systems here at Advocate/Atrium - Charlotte.. The actual decommissioning of the system is not all that complicated - blank off all the outlets, turn off and relabel ZVB, disconnect and relabel master/area, pull tanks off manifold and label not in use. We are not removing the pipe system - the cost would be through the roof. 

Anesthesia is not going to stop using N20, they are going to use E cylinders on back of the cart in-lieu of the wall. Where it gets complicated is determining how many extra E cylinders anesthesia will need, where are they going to be stored, who is going to move the cylinders when they need to be changed, at what point will they determine the bottle is "Empty" and change it, etc.? 

I have our anesthesia groups simulate the decommission to make sure all of the new processes put in place work prior to turning off the system's. Although not a required gas, we did also reach out the local AHJ, to get their blessing's as well.. 

Hope this helps, happy to share more if you need more info. 

Here is the study I found from London.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007091224005075

Here is another article regarding a hospital in Denver

https://coloradosun.com/2024/11/08/denver-health-nitrous-oxide-greenhouse-gas/#:~:text=The%20cylinders%20contain%20nitrous%20oxide%20%E2%80%94%20N2O%252C,other%20places%20where%20it%20may%20be%20used.&text=As%20a%20greenhouse%20gas%252C%20nitrous%20oxide%20is%20300%20times%20more%20potent%20than%20carbon%20dioxide.https://databank.worldbank.org/metadataglossary/world-development-indicators/series/EN.ATM.NOXE.ZG#:~:text=Nitrous%20oxide%20is%20a%20powerful,carbon%20dioxide%20within%20100%20years.

One last article regarding this.  I think this may have been the study Keith referred to by the group out West.

https://practicegreenhealth.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/Cascaida%20Collaborative_Discontinuing%20N20%20Playbook_V1.pdf

Thanks all for commenting, I am looking forward to reviewing this information and discussing this in person in New Orleans.

I glanced at the last attachment Cary provided (practicegreenhealth) and stopped when it stated "The recommendation is to quickly transition to using E-cylinders at the point of care rather than a highly inefficient piped system."

That organization seems to have a slightly different understanding of how efficient the piped nitrous oxide system actually is than I do.