Nitrous Oxide Leaks in Healthcare

anaesthetic awareness gas hazard pipeline waste Sep 30, 2024

Invisible Hazards: The Hidden Dangers of Nitrous Oxide Leaks in Healthcare 

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to ozone depletion 🌍❌. It is also commonly used in healthcare facilities (HCF), particularly in the operating suite, where it serves as an inhalational anaesthetic agent πŸ›οΈπŸ’Š.

What’s the Problem? πŸ€”

  • N2O is supplied via a pipeline system and/or gas cylinders, but these systems are prone to leakage πŸ”§πŸ’§.

  • Across Australia and the UK, it's estimated that at least 50% (up to 70%) of the N2O supplied to HCFs is lost to this leakage before clinical administration πŸ“‰.

  • N2O is colourless and odourless, making leaks difficult to detect unless actively sought out πŸ‘€πŸ”.

  • This loss is a major contributor to the carbon footprint of HCFs 🌱🌐.

  • It is extremely financially wasteful πŸ’ΈπŸ’”

What Are We Doing About It? πŸ’ͺ

  • Australian Standards outline installation, testing, and maintenance requirements for medical gas pipeline systems to ensure a standardised approach nationwide πŸ“œβœ”οΈ.

  • HCFs are encouraged to monitor N2O usage, with various methods available to help estimate usage and leakage πŸ“ŠπŸ”§.

  • Organisations like the Australian Centre for Disease Control and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (UK) provide guidelines and support to promote awareness and improvements in medical gas management and waste reduction πŸ₯🌏.

What Can You Do About It? πŸ™Œ

  • Awareness is Key! A major site of leakage for N2O has been identified at gas outlet connection points, particularly on anaesthetic pendants and blue piping πŸ”ŒπŸ”΅.

  • Check your connections and pipeline each shift to ensure their integrity. Report any concerns to your Nurse in Charge and/or Biomedical Services! πŸ“žπŸ› οΈ

Build Knowledge βœ…

Improve Safety βœ…

 

Refs:

 

Australian Centre for Disease Control (2024). Detecting and reducing nitrous oxide leaks in healthcare facilities - A practical guide. Department of Health and Aged Care https://shorturl.at/y9xSz


Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (2024). The Nitrous Oxide Project. https://shorturl.at/vwO5r

Stay connected with news and updates!

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.

We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.

Want to keep learning?

Want more content like this? Check out our premium membership for exclusive content.Β 

Click Here for Access

Β 

Β 

Join our mailing list for free weekly educational content.

Β 

By entering your details you consent to receiving amazing educational materials and updates about our products and events.