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Minimising carbon and financial costs of steam sterilisation and packaging of reusable surgical instruments
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Rizan, Chantelle, Lillywhite, Robert, Reed, Malcolm and Bhutta, Mahmood F. (2022) Minimising carbon and financial costs of steam sterilisation and packaging of reusable surgical instruments. British Journal of Surgery, 109 (2). pp. 200-210. doi:10.1093/bjs/znab406 ISSN 0007-1323.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znab406
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the carbon footprint and financial cost of decontaminating (steam sterilization) and packaging reusable surgical instruments, indicating how that burden might be reduced, enabling surgeons to drive action towards net-zero-carbon surgery. Methods: Carbon footprints were estimated using activity data and prospective machine-loading audit data at a typical UK in-hospital sterilization unit, with instruments wrapped individually in flexible pouches, or prepared as sets housed in single-use tray wraps or reusable rigid containers. Modelling was used to determine the impact of alternative machine loading, opening instruments during the operation, streamlining sets, use of alternative energy sources for decontamination, and alternative waste streams.
Results: The carbon footprint of decontaminating and packaging instruments was lowest when instruments were part of sets (66–77 g CO2e per instrument), with a two- to three-fold increase when instruments were wrapped individually (189 g CO2e per instrument). Where 10 or fewer instruments were required for the operation, obtaining individually wrapped items was preferable to opening another set. The carbon footprint was determined significantly by machine loading and the number of instruments per machine slot. Carbon and financial costs increased with streamlining sets. High-temperature incineration of waste increased the carbon footprint of single-use packaging by 33–55 per cent, whereas recycling reduced this by 6–10 per cent. The absolute carbon footprint was dependent on the energy source used, but this did not alter the optimal processes to minimize that footprint. Conclusion: Carbon and financial savings can be made by preparing instruments as part of sets, integrating individually wrapped instruments into sets rather than streamlining them, efficient machine loading, and using low-carbon energy sources alongside recycling.
Item Type: | Journal Article | |||||||||
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Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) | |||||||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) | |||||||||
SWORD Depositor: | Library Publications Router | |||||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Medical instruments and apparatus -- Cost effectiveness, Greenhouse gases -- Surgical aspects, Medical instruments and apparatus -- Sterilization, Sterilization -- Standards, Greenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects, Environmental auditing, Greenhouse gas mitigation | |||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | British Journal of Surgery | |||||||||
Publisher: | John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | |||||||||
ISSN: | 0007-1323 | |||||||||
Official Date: | February 2022 | |||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 109 | |||||||||
Number: | 2 | |||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 200-210 | |||||||||
DOI: | 10.1093/bjs/znab406 | |||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | |||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | |||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | |||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 16 February 2022 | |||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 21 February 2022 | |||||||||
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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