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The carbon footprint of products used in five common surgical operations : identifying contributing products and processes
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Rizan, Chantelle, Lillywhite, Robert, Reed, Malcom and Bhutta, Mahmood F. (2023) The carbon footprint of products used in five common surgical operations : identifying contributing products and processes. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 116 (6). pp. 199-213. doi:10.1177/01410768231166135 ISSN 0141-0768.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/01410768231166135
Abstract
Objectives:
Mitigating carbon footprint of products used in resource-intensive areas such as surgical operating rooms will be important in achieving net zero carbon healthcare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the carbon footprint of products used within five common operations, and to identify the biggest contributors (hotspots).
Design:
A predominantly process-based carbon footprint analysis was conducted for products used in the five highest volume surgical operations performed in the National Health System in England.
Setting:
The carbon footprint inventory was based on direct observation of 6–10 operations/type, conducted across three sites within one NHS Foundation Trust in England.
Participants:
Patients undergoing primary elective carpal tunnel decompression, inguinal hernia repair, knee arthroplasty, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, tonsillectomy (March 2019 – January 2020).
Main outcome measures:
We determined the carbon footprint of the products used in each of the five operations, alongside greatest contributors through analysis of individual products and of underpinning processes.
Results:
The mean average carbon footprint of products used for carpal tunnel decompression was 12.0 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalents); 11.7 kg CO2e for inguinal hernia repair; 85.5 kg CO2e for knee arthroplasty; 20.3 kg CO2e for laparoscopic cholecystectomy; and 7.5 kg CO2e for tonsillectomy. Across the five operations, 23% of product types were responsible for ≥80% of the operation carbon footprint. Products with greatest carbon contribution for each operation type were the single-use hand drape (carpal tunnel decompression), single-use surgical gown (inguinal hernia repair), bone cement mix (knee arthroplasty), single-use clip applier (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) and single-use table drape (tonsillectomy). Mean average contribution from production of single-use items was 54%, decontamination of reusables 20%, waste disposal of single-use items 8%, production of packaging for single-use items 6% and linen laundering 6%.
Conclusions:
Change in practice and policy should be targeted towards those products making greatest contribution, and should include reducing single-use items and switching to reusables, alongside optimising processes for decontamination and waste disposal, modelled to reduce carbon footprint of these operations by 23%–42%.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics R Medicine > RD Surgery |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) | ||||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Climatic changes, Greenhouse gas mitigation, Conservation of natural resources -- Research, Environmental health, Surgery, Operative, Surgery | ||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine | ||||||||
Publisher: | Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd. | ||||||||
ISSN: | 0141-0768 | ||||||||
Official Date: | June 2023 | ||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 116 | ||||||||
Number: | 6 | ||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 199-213 | ||||||||
DOI: | 10.1177/01410768231166135 | ||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 18 April 2023 | ||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 18 April 2023 |
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