We all know that anesthetic gas exposure has risks. Short-term effects of an acute waste anesthetic gas exposure may include a headache, fatigue, and nausea. Longer-term, however, the risks are even more severe. Inhalant anesthetics have been associated with neurologic changes, liver and kidney damage, reproductive disorders, hematopoietic issues, and even neoplasia. Waste anesthetic gas exposure may also pose a miscarriage risk in pregnant women, although this has not been definitively determined.
In order to minimize these risks, it’s important for everyone on the hospital team to work to limit waste anesthetic gas exposure.
