Changing Patterns in Anesthetic Fresh Gas Flow Rates Over 5 Years in a Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Fresh gas flows used in our department have decreased by 35% over 4 years. Although the absolute change in flow rate is not large, this represents potential annual savings of more than $US130,000. This occurred without specific initiatives, suggesting an evolution in practice towards lower fresh gas flow. Improvements in equipment and monitoring, including a locally developed system, which displays forward predictions of end-tidal and effect-site vapor concentrations, may be factors in this change.