Ep125. The Anaesthesia Iceberg

In this episode, I talk about the environmental impact of oral versus intravenous paracetamol. It accompanies a really 'cool' poster in the September 2026 edition of Australian Anaesthetist.

Download the September 26 Australian Anaesthetist here.

Similar podcast episodes:

Ep69. Talking TRA2SH with Dr Jess Davies

Ep119. Sharps Waste Audit

Ep114. Measuring Nitrous Oxide Leaks

Some AI generated notes:

Key Takeaways

Oral paracetamol is clinically equivalent to IV formulation for postoperative analgesia, making the switch a low-risk, evidence-based practice change

Environmental impact is substantial: switching from IV to oral could reduce carbon emissions by 45-68 times per dose when accounting for full lifecycle and disposal

Implementation barriers are behavioral rather than clinical. Awareness, institutional protocols, and prescriber engagement are critical success factors

Practical strategies include data-driven audits of current IV usage, standardized prescribing pathways through pre-admission clinics or day-of-admission nursing protocols, and standing orders in private facilities