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Anract J, Pradere B, Pinar U. Sustainable practices in hospital and operating theaters. Curr Opin Urol 2024; 34:384-389. [PMID: 38813704 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0000000000001190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to provide an update on the results of studies published in the last two years involving the development of sustainable practices in hospital and operating theaters (OT). RECENT FINDINGS Recently, many studies evaluated various initiatives to better understand the environmental impact of the OT but also to minimize its environmental impact. Many trials evidenced the positive impact of the instrument's reuse using an appropriate reprocessing procedure. Better waste segregation is associated with a reduction of produced waste and contributes to a significant reduction in CO 2 equivalent emissions. Regarding anaesthetic gas, Desflurane is known to have the worst environmental impact and the majority of the study evidenced that its reduction permits to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emission of the OT. SUMMARY Greening the OT necessitates climate-smart actions such as waste reduction, the improvement of reusable instruments, recycling of our waste and better anaesthetic gas management. Within the last two years, many efforts have been made to reduce and better segregate waste produced in the OT and also to better understand the environmental impact of disposable and reusable devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Anract
- Université de Paris, APHP-Centre, Hôpital universitaire Cochin, Service d'urologie, Paris
| | - Benjamin Pradere
- Department of Urology, La Croix du Sud Hospital, Quint Fonsegrives
| | - Ugo Pinar
- Sorbonne University, GRC 5, Predictive Onco-Urology, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hôpital, Urology, Paris, France
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Huo B, Eussen MMM, Marconi S, Johnson SM, Francis N, Oslock WM, Marfo N, Potapov O, Bello RJ, Lim RB, Vandeberg J, Hall RP, EdM AAMD, Sanchez-Casalongue M, Alimi YR, Pietrabissa A, Arezzo A, Frountzas M, Bellato V, Barach P, Rems M, Nijihawan S, Sathe TS, Miller B, Samreen S, Chung J, Bouvy ND, Sylla P. Scoping review for the SAGES EAES joint collaborative on sustainability in surgical practice. Surg Endosc 2024:10.1007/s00464-024-11141-x. [PMID: 39174709 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-024-11141-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgical care in the operating room (OR) contributes one-third of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in healthcare. The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) initiated a joint Task Force to promote sustainability within minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS A scoping review was conducted by searching MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase via Elsevier, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus on August 25th, 2023 to identify articles reporting on the impact of gastrointestinal surgical care on the environment. The objectives were to establish the terminology, outcome measures, and scope associated with sustainable surgical practice. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS We screened 22,439 articles to identify 85 articles relevant to anesthesia, general surgical practice, and gastrointestinal surgery. There were 58/85 (68.2%) cohort studies and 12/85 (14.1%) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies. The most commonly measured outcomes were kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2eq), cost of resource consumption in US dollars or euros, surgical waste in kg, water consumption in liters, and energy consumption in kilowatt-hours. Surgical waste production and the use of anesthetic gases were among the largest contributors to the climate impact of surgical practice. Educational initiatives to educate surgical staff on the climate impact of surgery, recycling programs, and strategies to restrict the use of noxious anesthetic gases had the highest impact in reducing the carbon footprint of surgical care. Establishing green teams with multidisciplinary champions is an effective strategy to initiate a sustainability program in gastrointestinal surgery. CONCLUSION This review establishes standard terminology and outcome measures used to define the environmental footprint of surgical practices. Impactful initiatives to achieve sustainability in surgical practice will require education and multidisciplinary collaborations among key stakeholders including surgeons, researchers, operating room staff, hospital managers, industry partners, and policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bright Huo
- Department of General Surgery, McMaster University, Ontario, CA, USA
| | - M M M Eussen
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefania Marconi
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Shaneeta M Johnson
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA.
| | | | - Wendelyn M Oslock
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Quality, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Nana Marfo
- Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
| | | | - Ricardo J Bello
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, NC, USA
| | - Robert B Lim
- Department of Surgery, Atrium Carolinas Medical Center, Wake Forest University, Charlotte, USA
| | | | - Ryan P Hall
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Yewande R Alimi
- Department of Surgery, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Alberto Arezzo
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Maximos Frountzas
- First Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippocration General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vittoria Bellato
- Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, University Hospital of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul Barach
- Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
- Department of General Surgery, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Miran Rems
- Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, General Hospital Jesenice, Jesenice, Slovenia
| | - Sheetal Nijihawan
- Department of Surgery, Sharon Regional Medical Center, Sharon, PA, USA
| | - Tejas S Sathe
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, USA
| | | | - Sarah Samreen
- Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jimmy Chung
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Adventus Health Partners, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - N D Bouvy
- Adventus Health Partners, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patricia Sylla
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY, USA
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Niño MC, La Rotta MG. Rethinking Desflurane Research and Prioritizing Planetary Conservation. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol 2024:00008506-990000000-00124. [PMID: 39076051 DOI: 10.1097/ana.0000000000000980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Claudia Niño
- Department of Anesthesiology, Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation University Hospital, Bogotá, Colombia
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Doshi S, Vuppula S, Jaggi P. Healthcare Sustainability to Address Climate Change: Call for Action to the Infectious Diseases Community. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2024; 13:306-312. [PMID: 38758197 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The US healthcare system's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change is disproportionately high and harms the public. Several medical specialties are now reassessing how they can mitigate healthcare's harmful environmental impact. Healthcare sustainability is broadly defined as measures to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and other pollutants generated during the healthcare delivery process. Prior efforts and programs by infectious diseases (ID) professionals, such as antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control can form a framework for ID professionals to help apply this expertise to healthcare environmental sustainability more broadly. This call to action proposes strategies for ID societies and professionals to incorporate climate change education for trainees, increase research and funding opportunities in healthcare sustainability, and calls for action by ID societies to champion system changes to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Doshi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sharon Vuppula
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Preeti Jaggi
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Kim HHR, Leschied JR, Lall N, Otero HJ, Kadom N. That's GROSS! Practical steps towards sustainability in pediatric radiology. Pediatr Radiol 2024; 54:1036-1039. [PMID: 38374438 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-024-05878-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Helen H R Kim
- Department of Radiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, MA.7.220, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - Jessica R Leschied
- Department of Radiology, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Neil Lall
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hansel J Otero
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nadja Kadom
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Chiem JL, Hansen EE, Fernandez N, Merguerian PA, Parikh SR, Reece K, Low DK, Martin LD. Transforming into a Learning Health System: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Pediatr Qual Saf 2024; 9:e724. [PMID: 38751896 PMCID: PMC11093568 DOI: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The Institute of Medicine introduced the Learning Healthcare System concept in 2006. The system emphasizes quality, safety, and value to improve patient outcomes. The Bellevue Clinic and Surgical Center is an ambulatory surgical center that embraces continuous quality improvement to provide exceptional patient-centered care to the pediatric surgical population. Methods We used statistical process control charts to study the hospital's electronic health record data. Over the past 7 years, we have focused on the following areas: efficiency (surgical block time use), effectiveness (providing adequate analgesia after transitioning to an opioid-sparing protocol), efficacy (creating a pediatric enhanced recovery program), equity (evaluating for racial disparities in surgical readmission rates), and finally, environmental safety (tracking and reducing our facility's greenhouse gas emissions from inhaled anesthetics). Results We have seen improvement in urology surgery efficiency, resulting in a 37% increase in monthly surgical volume, continued adaptation to our opioid-sparing protocol to further reduce postanesthesia care unit opioid administration for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy cases, successful implementation of an enhanced recovery program, continued work to ensure equitable healthcare for our patients, and more than 85% reduction in our facility's greenhouse gas emissions from inhaled anesthetics. Conclusions The Bellevue Clinic and Surgical Center facility is a living example of a learning health system, which has evolved over the years through continued patient-centered QI work. Our areas of emphasis, including efficiency, effectiveness, efficacy, equity, and environmental safety, will continue to impact the community we serve positively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Chiem
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Elizabeth E. Hansen
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Nicolas Fernandez
- Department of Urology, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Paul A. Merguerian
- Department of Urology, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Sanjay R. Parikh
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Kayla Reece
- Department of Perioperative Services, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
| | - Daniel K. Low
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Lynn D. Martin
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Wash
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
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Nordin EJ, Dugan SM, Kusters AC, Schimek CA, Sherman KA, Ebert TJ. How an Audit-and-Feedback-Based Educational Program Contributed to a Reduction in Environmentally Harmful Waste Anesthetic Gases Among Anesthesiology Residents. J Grad Med Educ 2024; 16:175-181. [PMID: 38993317 PMCID: PMC11234298 DOI: 10.4300/jgme-d-23-00402.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. US anesthesiology resident education on how to reduce WAG-associated emissions is lacking, so we developed an electronic audit-and-feedback-based program to teach residents to reduce fresh gas flow (FGF) and WAG-associated emissions. Objective To assess the program's effectiveness, we measured individual and combined mean FGF of residents during their first, second, and last weeks of the 4-week rotation; then, we calculated the extrapolated annual emissions based on the combined resident mean FGFs. Resident attitudes toward the program were surveyed. Methods During 4-week rotations at a teaching hospital, anesthesia records were scanned to extract resident-assigned cases, FGF, and volatile anesthetic choice during the 2020-2021 academic year. Forty residents across 3 training years received weekly FGF data and extrapolated WAG-associated emissions data via email. Their own FGF data was compared to the low-flow standard FGF of ≤1 liter per minute (LPM) and to the FGF data of their peer residents on rotation with them. An online survey was sent to residents at the end of the project period. Results Between their first and last weeks on rotation, residents decreased their mean FGF by 22% (1.83 vs 1.42 LPM; STD 0.58 vs 0.44; 95% CI 1.67-2.02 vs 1.29-1.56; P<.0001). Ten of 18 (56%) residents who responded to the survey reported their individual case-based results were most motivating toward practice change. Conclusions An audit-and-feedback-based model for anesthesiology resident education, designed to promote climate-conscious practices with administration of volatile anesthetics, was effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Nordin
- is a Medical Student, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Shannon M Dugan
- is an Anesthesiology Research Coordinator, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew C Kusters
- is a Biomedical Engineer, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Katherine A Sherman
- is a Statistician, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; and
| | - Thomas J Ebert
- is a Clinician Scientist, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Bernat M, Boyer A, Roche M, Richard C, Bouvet L, Remacle A, Antonini F, Poirier M, Pastene B, Hammad E, Fond G, Bruder N, Leone M, Zieleskiewicz L. Reducing the carbon footprint of general anaesthesia: a comparison of total intravenous anaesthesia vs. a mixed anaesthetic strategy in 47,157 adult patients. Anaesthesia 2024; 79:309-317. [PMID: 38205529 DOI: 10.1111/anae.16221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Global warming is a major public health concern. Volatile anaesthetics are greenhouse gases that increase the carbon footprint of healthcare. Modelling studies indicate that total intravenous anaesthesia is less carbon intensive than volatile anaesthesia, with equivalent quality of care. In this observational study, we aimed to apply the findings of previous modelling studies to compare the carbon footprint per general anaesthetic of an exclusive TIVA strategy vs. a mixed TIVA-volatile strategy. This comparative retrospective study was conducted over 2 years in two French hospitals, one using total intravenous anaesthesia only and one using a mixed strategy including both intravenous and inhalation anaesthetic techniques. Based on pharmacy procurement records, the quantity of anaesthetic sedative drugs was converted to carbon dioxide equivalents. The primary outcome was the difference in carbon footprint of hypnotic drugs per intervention between the two strategies. From 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022, 25,137 patients received general anaesthesia in the hospital using the total intravenous anaesthesia strategy and 22,020 in the hospital using the mixed strategy. The carbon dioxide equivalent footprint of hypnotic drugs per intervention in the hospital using the total intravenous anaesthesia strategy was 20 times lower than in the hospital using the mixed strategy (emissions of 2.42 kg vs. 48.85 kg carbon dioxide equivalent per intervention, respectively). The total intravenous anaesthesia strategy significantly reduces the carbon footprint of hypnotic drugs in general anaesthesia in adult patients compared with a mixed strategy. Further research is warranted to assess the risk-benefit ratio of the widespread adoption of total intravenous anaesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bernat
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - A Boyer
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - M Roche
- Pharmacy Department, Service Central des Opérations Pharmaceutiques, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - C Richard
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - L Bouvet
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - A Remacle
- Departement of Medical Information, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France
| | - F Antonini
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - M Poirier
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - B Pastene
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - E Hammad
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - G Fond
- CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - N Bruder
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - M Leone
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - L Zieleskiewicz
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
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