Operating Room Fast Facts

  • The operating room is typically the largest generator of waste (20-33% of facility total) and largest generator of regulated medical waste.
  • It is also one of the most energy-intensive departments within a hospital.
  • Almost 80% of packaging waste from procedures is generated before the patient enters the OR.
  • To practice low flow anesthesia
    • Turn off the FLOW, NOT the vaporizer, during intubation
    • Keep total flow <1 LPM during the maintenance phase of anesthesia
    • Use high fresh gas flow (<1 min ventilation) for rapid change in anesthetic depth
    • Monitor end-tidal oxygen and  inhalational anesthesia concentration for safety

Committee Members

Faculty: Drs Ankit Jain, Efrain Riveros-Perez, Nicolas Avila, Akbar Herekar, Stevin Dubin, Sheryl Ang; APPs: Nadia Lee, Megan Mueller

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