Cost-effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions in plastic surgery

Global warming is the biggest health threat of the 21st century. If healthcare were a country, it would be the 5th largest greenhouse gas emitter on the planet. The operating theatre produces 21-30% more waste than the rest of the hospital. This study aimed to implement carbon and cost saving measures in plastic surgery from minor operations to free flap reconstruction.

Evaluate current departmental use of disposable sets and consumables. Perform a financial and environmental cost analysis comparing disposable and reusable minor plastic surgical sets. Repeat the same analysis and apply findings on rationalising main theatre plastics sets. Jamovi (2.3.28) built on R statistical language was used for statistical analysis.

Introducing new minor plastics sets to main theatre with a 77% reduction in instruments from the previous major plastics sets for smaller cases can save €50310 and 2900-3388kgCO2e. Microsurgical breast reconstruction set contents were decreased by 55% along with reducing single use consumables, amounting to an annual saving of €10696 and 155-181kgCO2e. Up to 6500 disposable minor surgical sets per year are consumed in the three plastic surgery units within the HSE West Hospital Group. By removing disposable sets from one unit entirely, our projected savings will be €13173 and 2199.35 kgCO2e.

We have improved our environmental and economic impact on the hospital, with potential savings of over €74'000 and 5.7 t CO2e with no deficits to patient care. These carbon savings are the equivalent to the emissions produced by a new car driving approximately 1.33 times around the Earth's circumference. These changes can be easily replicated across other departments to affect more widespread savings.