WEBVTT

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Welcome to the Helios Klinikum Bad Saarow.

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My name is Stefan Wirtz, I am the head of the Department of Anesthesiology 
and chief physician here in Bad Saarow.

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Anesthetic gases remain important and 
indispensable to modern medicine.

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But they are also an important 
direct source of emissions in hospital operations.

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Their global warming potential exceeds 
that of CO₂ many times over.

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Normally, most of the anesthetic gases are released into the atmosphere 
after the patient exhales, via a tube connected to the ventilation system.

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If, instead, we capture anesthetic gases in our operating rooms
and intensive care units using special systems, 

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rather than releasing them into the outside air, 
we can significantly reduce our environmental footprint.

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The gases are collected in the operating room in a special container with activated carbon.

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Once the capacity of the filters is exhausted, 
they are disconnected from the ventilator.

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The manufacturer of the filters can then use the captured gases 
from the activated carbon and send it for possible reuse.

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In 2023, we initially introduced the procedure in 19 hospitals 
in the Helios East region.

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By 2025, we had equipped all ventilators in approximately 
50 intensive care units with recycling systems.

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In 2026, we will equip operating rooms in more than 
30 Helios hospitals with activated carbon filters.