Mapping the Carbon Footprint Literature of Operating Rooms: A Bibliometric Analysis

The healthcare sector contributes approximately 4%-10% to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Within this percentage, the contribution of operating rooms is significant and cannot be overlooked. This study aims to construct a knowledge mapping related to research on the carbon footprint in operating rooms.

A comprehensive search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database on May 1, 2025, using the keywords "operating room" OR "operating theater" OR "perioperative area" AND "carbon footprint", without applying any time restrictions. The search was limited to the fields of title, abstract, keyword plus, and author keywords. The analysis was performed using the Bibliometrix-Biblioshiny package in R software (version 4.2.2). The results were presented through key information, a word cloud, trend topics, and a thematic map.

Publications were produced between 2013 and 2025, with an average publication age of 2.14 years and an annual publication growth rate of 28.83%. The majority of publications originated from the United States and the United Kingdom. Aside from keywords, the most frequently studied topic (n = 32, 14%) and the topic showing ongoing development was "sustainability." Topics such as "greenhouse gases," "surgical waste," "gas emission," and "decarbonization" had developed but remained isolated subjects.

This bibliometric study comprehensively analyzes the scientific discourse, trends, and developments prevailing in carbon footprint research in operating rooms without any time constraints. Identifying the limitations and orientations of current research is expected to serve as a reference for researchers interested in the carbon footprint in operating rooms.