Environmental sustainability in urologic practices: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urology
• Sustainable Healthcare

Background:

• Healthcare contributes significantly to global carbon emissions.
• Urologic procedures and equipment present unique environmental challenges.
• There is a growing need for sustainable practices in medical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the environmental impact of urologic procedures and equipment.
• To compare emissions and waste between single-use and reusable urologic devices.
• To identify strategies for reducing environmental impact and promote sustainable urology.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines, registered on PROSPERO.
• Searched for studies on sustainability, carbon footprint, and environmental impact in urology.
• Included ten studies after screening 7714 records; assessed quality using QUADAS.

Main Results:

• Single-use cystoscopes had lower CO2 emissions but higher waste than reusable ones.
• Reusable cystoscopes increased emissions due to energy-intensive reprocessing.
• Transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) procedures had a high carbon footprint; robotic prostatectomy was less impactful than laparoscopic methods.

Conclusions:

• A balanced approach is needed for sustainability in urology.
• Improving sterilization processes for reusable devices is crucial.
• Developing eco-friendly single-use alternatives can contribute to sustainability.