An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system
Abstract Background Volatile anesthetics are known to be potent greenhouse gases and a significant source of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemical” pollution. The latter is arguably an additional strong reason to stop the emission of anesthetic exhaust gases into the atmosphere...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Anesthesiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03223-7 |
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| author | Katja Nickel Christian Thoben Christiane E. Beck Jan Karsten Terence Krauß Alexander Nitschke Moritz Hitzemann Stefan Zimmermann Sebastian Heiderich |
| author_facet | Katja Nickel Christian Thoben Christiane E. Beck Jan Karsten Terence Krauß Alexander Nitschke Moritz Hitzemann Stefan Zimmermann Sebastian Heiderich |
| author_sort | Katja Nickel |
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| description | Abstract Background Volatile anesthetics are known to be potent greenhouse gases and a significant source of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemical” pollution. The latter is arguably an additional strong reason to stop the emission of anesthetic exhaust gases into the atmosphere on its own. In clinical practice large proportions of used volatile anesthetics are released into the environment via anesthetic gas scavenging systems. Anesthetic gas adsorbers have been developed to bind volatile anesthetics for later extraction and reusage. They may have the potential to replace anesthetic gas scavenging systems which would have a beneficial effect on the energy consumption of hospitals. However, studies are needed to ensure effective elimination of volatile anesthetics via anesthetic gas adsorbers without gas scavenging systems. Objective To evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber during simulated ventilation. Design A bench study. Setting An anesthesia machine was connected to an anesthetic gas adsorber (CONTRAfluran™ system, Zeosys Medical, Luckenwalde, Germany) without the use of an anesthetic gas scavenging system. A test lung was ventilated with sevoflurane and oxygen. Sevoflurane concentrations in parts per million (ppm) were detected directly from the anesthetic gas adsorber exhaust outlet using ion mobility spectrometry with gas chromatographic preseparation. A total of 6 experiments were conducted with alternating fresh gas flows, sevoflurane concentrations, humidified air and CO2 insufflation. Main outcome measures Absolute sevoflurane concentration. Results Sevoflurane concentration remained < 1 ppm as long as the canisters were not saturated. At higher fresh gas flow, the breakthrough time of the anesthetic gas adsorber decreased proportionately. Humidified air and CO2 insufflation had only a minor influence on the breakthrough time. Conclusion The anesthetic gas adsorber did not leak relevant sevoflurane concentrations through the exhaust outlet when used without an anesthetic gas scavenging system. When the canister came close to saturation, the post adsorber exhaust sevoflurane concentration progressively increased–indicated by first the yellow-light and subsequently the red-light warning of the anesthetic gas adsorber system. Continuation of the ventilation with a fully saturated canister resulted in ambient room contamination of up to 12.4 ppm sevoflurane, which though undesirable is still low when compared to mask induction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0102cf4ce3824f5d982a0254b3ce4e29 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2253 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| series | BMC Anesthesiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-0102cf4ce3824f5d982a0254b3ce4e292025-08-20T03:42:52ZengBMCBMC Anesthesiology1471-22532025-07-012511910.1186/s12871-025-03223-7An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging systemKatja Nickel0Christian Thoben1Christiane E. Beck2Jan Karsten3Terence Krauß4Alexander Nitschke5Moritz Hitzemann6Stefan Zimmermann7Sebastian Heiderich8Clinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolInstitute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University HannoverClinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolInstitute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University HannoverInstitute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University HannoverInstitute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University HannoverClinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolAbstract Background Volatile anesthetics are known to be potent greenhouse gases and a significant source of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemical” pollution. The latter is arguably an additional strong reason to stop the emission of anesthetic exhaust gases into the atmosphere on its own. In clinical practice large proportions of used volatile anesthetics are released into the environment via anesthetic gas scavenging systems. Anesthetic gas adsorbers have been developed to bind volatile anesthetics for later extraction and reusage. They may have the potential to replace anesthetic gas scavenging systems which would have a beneficial effect on the energy consumption of hospitals. However, studies are needed to ensure effective elimination of volatile anesthetics via anesthetic gas adsorbers without gas scavenging systems. Objective To evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber during simulated ventilation. Design A bench study. Setting An anesthesia machine was connected to an anesthetic gas adsorber (CONTRAfluran™ system, Zeosys Medical, Luckenwalde, Germany) without the use of an anesthetic gas scavenging system. A test lung was ventilated with sevoflurane and oxygen. Sevoflurane concentrations in parts per million (ppm) were detected directly from the anesthetic gas adsorber exhaust outlet using ion mobility spectrometry with gas chromatographic preseparation. A total of 6 experiments were conducted with alternating fresh gas flows, sevoflurane concentrations, humidified air and CO2 insufflation. Main outcome measures Absolute sevoflurane concentration. Results Sevoflurane concentration remained < 1 ppm as long as the canisters were not saturated. At higher fresh gas flow, the breakthrough time of the anesthetic gas adsorber decreased proportionately. Humidified air and CO2 insufflation had only a minor influence on the breakthrough time. Conclusion The anesthetic gas adsorber did not leak relevant sevoflurane concentrations through the exhaust outlet when used without an anesthetic gas scavenging system. When the canister came close to saturation, the post adsorber exhaust sevoflurane concentration progressively increased–indicated by first the yellow-light and subsequently the red-light warning of the anesthetic gas adsorber system. Continuation of the ventilation with a fully saturated canister resulted in ambient room contamination of up to 12.4 ppm sevoflurane, which though undesirable is still low when compared to mask induction.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03223-7Anesthetic gas adsorberSevofluraneVolatile anestheticsGlobal warming potentialsIon mobility spectrometryAnesthetic gas scavenging system |
| spellingShingle | Katja Nickel Christian Thoben Christiane E. Beck Jan Karsten Terence Krauß Alexander Nitschke Moritz Hitzemann Stefan Zimmermann Sebastian Heiderich An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system BMC Anesthesiology Anesthetic gas adsorber Sevoflurane Volatile anesthetics Global warming potentials Ion mobility spectrometry Anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| title | An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| title_full | An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| title_fullStr | An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| title_full_unstemmed | An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| title_short | An observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| title_sort | observational laboratory study to evaluate an anesthetic gas adsorber without anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| topic | Anesthetic gas adsorber Sevoflurane Volatile anesthetics Global warming potentials Ion mobility spectrometry Anesthetic gas scavenging system |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03223-7 |
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