ANZCA's statement on desflurane

ANZCA’s statement on desflurane supports the continued education and actions to reduce usage.
We recognise the need for urgent action on climate change, and mitigating the effects of desflurane on planetary health is one initiative of a wider comprehensive suite of strategies. Anaesthetists continue to demonstrate leadership to decarbonise healthcare with ANZCA’s Environmental Sustainability Network (ESN) Executive Committee instrumental in the development of this statement.
The statement seeks to balance the current evidence and perspectives on administration of the greenhouse gas desflurane as an anaesthetic agent and to reinforce anaesthetists’ ability as clinicians to exert positive change and mitigate environmental impact.
It is supported by ANZCA PS64(G) Position statement on environmental sustainability in anaesthesia and pain medicine practice 2019 and the ANZCA-statement-on-climate-change_2020.
Along with the recently published Joint Statement: Working together to achieve sustainable high-quality health care in a changing climate as a shared commitment with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, interim Australian Centre for Disease Control, Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) representing all medical colleges, and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA).
The reduction of desflurane is also a key action of the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care's National Health and Climate Strategy.
The desflurane statement further strengthens anaesthetists’ commitment, actions and measures to minimising the health impact of climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.
Further information on ANZCA and ESN executive actions is located here.
You might also be interested in...

The following candidates have met the criteria for invitation to the final viva examination in May 2025.

ANZCA has called for the federal government and shadow government to consider and deliver on six priorities and calls for action as part of the 2025 federal election.

New this month: updated GLP-1 Agonist guideline; Propofol supply issues in NZ; Discontinuation of Bridion; RCH sepsis guidelines; webAIRS article in ANZCA Bulletin (Autumn ed.)