2025, Vol. 8, Issue 4, Part B
Low flow anaesthesia in India: Balancing clinical efficiency, economic viability, and environmental responsibility
Author(s): Samarth BS, Anand Shankar K and Vairamuthu K
Abstract: India, as a rapidly developing nation, faces the dual challenge of delivering high-quality healthcare while managing limited economic resources and addressing environmental concerns. The country’s per capita healthcare expenditure remains significantly lower compared to other developing and developed nations, exerting pressure on cost-effective medical practices. Low flow Anaesthesia (LFA) has emerged as a vital approach to address these challenges by significantly reducing volatile anaesthetic agent consumption, cutting costs, and minimizing environmental impact. Volatile agents, including sevoflurane and desflurane, contribute substantially to total Anaesthesia costs. Nitrous oxide and halogenated fluorocarbons, commonly used in Anaesthesia, possess long atmospheric lifetimes and high global warming potential. LFA techniques, characterized by fresh gas flows below the patient’s minute ventilation and carbon dioxide rebreathing after absorption, offer clinically safe and economically viable Anaesthesia. These techniques conserve heat and humidity, reduce operating room pollution, and lower the emission of greenhouse gases, aligning with global initiatives to curb climate change. Implementation of LFA requires specific technical setups, including circle breathing systems, precise flowmeters, airtight circuits, and vigilant monitoring of inspired oxygen and end-tidal gas concentrations. While automated target-controlled Anaesthesia systems optimize agent delivery, their high-cost limits availability in many Indian hospitals, necessitating reliance on conventional LFA methods. India’s anaesthesiology community can benefit from further comparative studies on agent efficacy at low flows, capacity building for technical proficiency, and investment in monitoring technologies. Adopting LFA represents a sustainable, pragmatic advancement in Anaesthesia practice that supports India’s healthcare and environmental priorities.
DOI: 10.33545/26643766.2025.v8.i4b.604
Pages: 74-76 | Views: 216 | Downloads: 108
Download Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Samarth BS, Anand Shankar K, Vairamuthu K. Low flow anaesthesia in India: Balancing clinical efficiency, economic viability, and environmental responsibility. Int J Med Anesthesiology 2025;8(4):74-76. DOI: 10.33545/26643766.2025.v8.i4b.604
