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Optimizing Pediatric Surgical Kits: A Cost-Effective Approach to Reducing Environmental Impact in Healthcare
Background:
Operating rooms (ORs) generate substantial waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in part due to common reliance on single-use disposable items widely used in prefabricated surgical kits. This study evaluates the environmental and economic benefits of streamlining surgical kits in a children's hospital.
Method:
Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to assess the cradle-to-grave impact of surgical kits, quantifying GHG emissions from raw material extraction through disposal. GHG emissions were modeled using the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model and openLCA software, scaled to annual surgical volumes, and converted using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. Iterative stakeholder consultation identified items for removal to minimize waste while maintaining operative needs. Cost savings were calculated from medical supplier data.
Results:
Optimizing three surgical kits (Pediatric Major, Pediatric Minor, and Pediatric Minor-Outpatient) by removing select items (for example, large ring basins, preparation trays, suction tubing, extra gowns) resulted in annual cost savings of $8,608 and GHG reductions of 30,654 g across 2,676 pediatric surgical cases. GHG reductions ranged from 6.9 g to 13.0 g per pack. If applied across all surgical service lines (cases = 26,000), projected GHG reductions would be between 179,400 g and 338,000 g, with a median of 288,600 g, equivalent to 783 miles (1,260 kilometers) driven, or a journey between Chicago and New York City.
Conclusion:
Streamlining pediatric surgical kits offers a scalable, cost-effective strategy for reducing the environmental impact of ORs. LCA provides a robust framework for evaluating sustainability in healthcare, supporting informed decision-making to enhance resource efficiency.
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