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The 10th Annual Conference of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, was launched under the title: "Anesthesia and Green Care." The event comes within the framework of supporting the Egyptian state’s orientation toward transitioning to sustainable healthcare systems and reducing the carbon footprint of medical practices, contributing to enhancing the quality of healthcare and protecting the environment.

The conference was held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the Board of University Hospitals. It was attended by faculty staff and a distinguished group of anesthesiology and intensive care specialists from various Egyptian universities.

In his speech, Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of University Hospitals, praised the pivotal role of the Department of Anesthesiology in advancing healthcare services. He highlighted the upcoming launch of the “Central Control Room” to digitally link intensive care units as part of the transition toward a smart hospital system. He also announced a joint project between the hospitals and the department aimed at connecting all medical devices and automating their management to ensure accurate resource allocation and cost optimization, in line with the hospital’s sustainability plan.

Prof. Sherif Farouk, Conference President and Head of the Department, affirmed that the department is undergoing a qualitative leap, with the inauguration of specialized units for cerebral catheterization procedures and vascular surgeries at the Cardiac Academy. He also noted the upcoming expansion in the number of intensive care beds, with direct support from the university’s senior administration.

For his part, Prof. Mohamed Ismail, Honorary President of the Conference and Advisor to the Dean for Intensive Care Affairs, emphasized that the conference aligns with a broader national vision supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals. He stressed the importance of reducing carbon emissions from the healthcare sector in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategy.

Prof. Ahmed El-Shaer, Vice President of the Conference, spoke about the concept of “Green Anesthesia,” emphasizing that it represents a significant shift in the philosophy of medical practice. He explained that it aims to reduce the environmental impact of anesthesia and critical care by rationalizing the use of drugs and equipment, and by prioritizing more environmentally friendly methods—such as local anesthesia and Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA)—over high carbon-impact gases.

Prof. Waleed El-Taher, Secretary-General of the Conference, then reviewed the conference agenda, which includes 12 scientific sessions and 4 hands-on workshops focusing on ventilator management, chronic pain treatment, lung ultrasound techniques, and practical training on the ECMO device used for critical care cases.

Prof. Hadeel Magdy, Conference Secretary, stressed that these activities aim to train young physicians in green medical practices and to raise environmental awareness in the field of anesthesia and critical care.

Dr. Dalia Ahmed Ibrahim, Head of the Organizing Committee, expressed her pride in organizing this event, which reflects the maturity of the Department of Anesthesiology in its 76th year. She noted that the green theme that dominated the conference was not a random choice but a powerful message affirming the department’s commitment to green transformation—from the bags and brochures to the symbolic “green cap” that has become a hallmark of the event.

She also pointed out the participation of 26 sponsoring companies this year, up from 15 in the previous edition, reflecting the growing interest in environmentally friendly anesthesia technologies and products.

At the conclusion of the conference, a set of key recommendations was issued, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability concepts into daily medical practices. Participants highlighted the need to reduce waste in medical resources, particularly in the use of antibiotics, and to shift toward environmentally friendly alternatives in anesthesia, such as using Sevoflurane and Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) instead of Desflurane, which has a high carbon footprint.

The recommendations also underscored the significance of adopting closed anesthesia systems, which help reduce gas emissions in operating rooms, along with the consistent application of low-flow anesthesia techniques as an effective way to minimize the consumption of anesthetic gases.

The conference further recommended training medical teams to make environmentally conscious decisions when selecting anesthesia methods, thereby contributing to reducing the carbon footprint of medical procedures.

Regarding intensive care, the conference called for reducing reliance on single-use instruments and replacing them with more sustainable and reusable options. Additional recommendations included rationalizing the use of water and chemical disinfectants and incorporating eco-friendly cleaning and sterilization technologies into daily care systems.

At the institutional policy level, the participants recommended establishing specialized committees to monitor and evaluate the implementation of green care principles, developing a guideline for sustainable surgical care, and creating a dedicated training curriculum to teach new physicians the environmental principles of modern healthcare, ensuring that sustainability becomes a deeply rooted value in future generations of medical professionals.

The conference was attended by Prof. Hala Suweed, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Rania Salah, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Hesham Anwar, Director of Ain Shams Specialized Hospital, Prof. Essam Fakhry, Director of the Surgery Hospital, Prof. Reem Al-Kabariti, Professor of Anesthesia at Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine and Director of the Graduates Department at Ain Shams University, Prof. Dalia Ahmed Ibrahim, Head of the Organizing Committee and Professor of Anesthesia at Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, and a group of faculty members from the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care and a group of anesthesia professors from Egyptian universities.