A Sustainable Solution for Reducing Draping Waste in Cleft Surgeries.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Surgical Waste Reduction

Background:

• Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) repair is a common pediatric surgical procedure.
• Minimizing surgical waste is crucial for environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a reduced draping technique on waste generation during primary CL/P repair.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of reduced draping compared to standard techniques.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review compared standard and reduced draping techniques in primary CL/P repairs.
• Complication rates, including extubation, infection, fistula, and dehiscence, were analyzed.
• Weight and cost savings associated with reduced draping were calculated.

Main Results:

• Reduced draping yielded a 530g weight savings and $7.49 cost savings per procedure.
• No significant differences in overall complication rates were observed between the two techniques.
• Oral mucosal dehiscence rates were lower in the reduced draping group.

Conclusions:

• Reduced draping is an effective strategy for minimizing operative waste in CL/P repairs.
• This technique offers significant environmental and economic benefits without compromising surgical outcomes.