Sustainable anaesthesia and theatre practice: practical steps for companion animal teams

Healthcare systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, making sustainability an increasingly important issue in veterinary medicine. Perioperative care is a logical area for improvement, as it combines the use of inhalational anaesthetic agents, pharmaceuticals, single-use consumables, surgical textiles and waste processing. This clinical review outlines practical steps that companion animal teams can take to reduce the environmental impact of anaesthesia and theatre practice without compromising clinical standards or patient safety. Areas discussed include fresh gas flow and volatile-agent use, drug wastage, surgical kits, consumable use and waste disposal. The Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist is also highlighted as a practical framework for auditing current practice and introducing realistic first steps towards sustainability.