Reusable and reprocessed anesthesia breathing circuits

Single-use anesthesia breathing circuits generate considerable plastic medical waste and upstream greenhouse gas emissions from constant item disposal after every patient procedure. This initiative addresses outdated provincial guidelines and lack of consensus that previously mandated discarding single-use or disposable plastic circuits after a single patient use.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/r-seau-d-action-pour-la-sant-durable-du-qu-bec-rasdq_prixaezlan-santaezdurable-innovation-activity-7427448851998920704-nPId?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABM8cWgBd0f_otAwJHBWst19KDh2yWYA5Zk This initiative was part of the 2025 Élan Awards and won the 2025 Élan Award, led by Dr. Catherine Lavallée at Charles-Le Moyne Hospital (CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre). Implementing extended-use or reprocessed anesthesia breathing circuits combined with bacterial/viral filters, allowing systems to safely remain in service across multiple patients for up to 7 days rather than being discarded immediately.