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Waste Audit of Robotic Gynecologic Surgery: A Pilot Study
Simone A Sasse1, Amy C Bleasdale1, Justin Zaslavsky2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone (Drs. Sasse, Bleasdale, and Karpel), New York, New York.
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology
|September 2, 2025
Summary
Robotic gynecologic surgery generates significant waste, primarily non-hazardous municipal solid waste. Strategies like optimizing surgical kits and reprocessing single-use devices can reduce environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Surgical Innovation
- Waste Management
Background:
- Robotic surgery is increasingly adopted in gynecology.
- The environmental impact of surgical waste is a growing concern.
- Quantifying waste in robotic gynecologic surgery is crucial for sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and characterize waste generated during robotic gynecologic surgery.
- To assess the environmental impact of this waste.
- To identify strategies for waste reduction and improved sustainability.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a waste audit of 20 robotic gynecologic surgery cases.
- Categorized waste into municipal solid waste (MSW) and regulated medical waste (RMW).
- Performed a life cycle impact assessment to evaluate environmental effects.
Main Results:
- Generated an average of 18.35 kg MSW and 0.48 kg RMW per case.
- Surgical gowns (SMS polypropylene) were the largest waste contributor by weight.
- Identified opportunities for recycling plastics and reducing waste from unused supplies.
Conclusions:
- Reorganizing surgical kits and reprocessing single-use devices can minimize waste.
- Proper waste stream segregation and exploring sustainable material alternatives are recommended.
- Alternative surgical modalities may reduce environmental burden for less complex cases.
