%0 Journal Article
%T A survey of the choice of general anaesthetic agents in Australia and New Zealand
%A David A Story
%A Forbes McGain
%A Georgina LL Imberger
%A Jason R Bishop
%A Laura M Elliot-Jones
%J Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
%@ 1448-0271
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0310057X19836104
%X Strategies to reduce the adverse environmental costs of anaesthesia include choice of agent and fresh gas flows. The current preferences of Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists are unknown. We conducted a survey of Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists to determine the use of volatiles, nitrous oxide and intravenous anaesthesia, lowest fresh gas flow rates, automated end-tidal volatile control, and the rationales for these choices. The survey was answered by 359/1000 (36%), although not all questions and multiple responses within single questions were answered by all respondents. Sevoflurane was preferred by 246/342 (72%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 67%每77%), followed by propofol, 54/340 (16%, 95% CI 12%每20%), desflurane 39/339 (12%, 95% CI 8%每16%) and isoflurane 3/338(1%, 95% CI 0每3%). When asked about all anaesthetics, low-risk clinical profile was the most common reason given for using sevoflurane (129/301 (43%, 95% CI 37%每49%)), reduced postoperative nausea for propofol (297/318 (93%, 95% CI 90%每96%)) and faster induction/awakening times for desflurane (46/313 (79%, 95% CI 74%每83%)). Two-thirds (226/340 (66%, 95% CI 61%每71%)) of respondents used nitrous oxide in 0每20% of general anaesthetics. Low fresh gas flow rates for sevoflurane were used by 310/333 (93%, 95% CI 90%每95%) and for 262/268 (98%, 95% CI 95%每99%) for desflurane. Automated end-tidal control was used by 196/333 (59%, 95% CI 53%每64%). The majority of respondents (>70%) preferred sevoflurane at low flows. These data allow anaesthetists to consider further whether changes are required to the choices of anaesthetic agents for environmental, financial, or any other reasons
%K Survey
%K general anaesthesia
%K volatiles
%K nitrous oxide
%K propofol
%K environment
%K financial savings
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0310057X19836104