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Improving triage and recycling of surgical waste at a pediatric hospital - a pilot study
Weronika Kopytek1, Louise Raeymaekers2, Helena Reusens1
1Pediatric Surgery Department, Hôpital Universitaire des enfants Reine Fabiola (HUDERF)/Hôpitaux Universitaires de Bruxelles (HUB), Brussels, Belgium.
Insights
Implementing simple waste segregation and recycling strategies in pediatric operating rooms significantly reduced incinerated waste by over 50%. This pilot study demonstrates effective sustainable waste management in healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Sustainability
- Environmental Medicine
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Operating rooms are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare.
- Pediatric hospitals have a responsibility to mitigate their environmental impact.
- A pilot study was initiated to evaluate waste reduction strategies in pediatric surgical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of simple waste segregation and recycling strategies.
- To reduce waste and improve sorting and recycling in pediatric operating quarters.
- To evaluate staff perceptions of sustainable waste management.
Main Methods:
- A weeklong intervention campaign was conducted at Hôpital Universitaire Des Enfants Reine Fabiola (HUDERF).
- Staff opinions were gathered via questionnaire before and after the intervention.
- Waste measurements were taken before (T=0) and after (T=1) the campaign for specific surgical procedures.
Main Results:
- Participant agreement on the necessity of sustainable operating quarters increased from 27% to 53%.
- Mean incinerated waste per procedure decreased by over 50% post-intervention (e.g., hernia/orchidopexy: 1780g to 665g).
- Reductions were observed across all analyzed procedures, including circumcision and central venous catheter placement.
Conclusions:
- Simple, easily implementable measures can drastically reduce surgical waste.
- Improved waste triage and reduced unnecessary opening of sterile materials are key factors.
- The study demonstrates a >50% reduction in waste to incinerate through a short-term campaign.
Background:
Within the medical industry, operating rooms contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. As a pediatric hospital, we feel highly responsible to reduce the negative impact of healthcare aimed at improving young lives. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess simple waste segregation and recycling strategies aimed at reducing waste and improving sorting and recycling in our operating quarters.
Methods:
The study was conducted at Hôpital Universitaire Des Enfants Reine Fabiola (HUDERF)'s operating quarters and consisted of a questionnaire addressing staff opinions and waste measurements before (T = 0) and after (T = 1) a weeklong intervention: a campaign aimed at improving sorting and recycling surgical waste and reducing unnecessary opening of materials.
Results:
Participants agreed that a transition towards more sustainable operating quarters will be necessary. At T = 1, 53% of respondents considered measures for sustainable waste management were applied, versus 26% before. Fifty-one surgeries were analyzed at T = 0. The mean weight of waste to incinerate was 1780 gram per hernia/orchidopexy, 940 gram per circumcision, and 2150 gram per central venous catheter (CVC) placement. At T = 1, another 51 surgeries were analyzed. The mean weight of waste to be incinerated was 665 gram per hernia/orchidopexy, 445 gram per circumcision, and 920 gram per CVC placement.
Conclusion:
Simple, easy-to-implement measures introduced during a one-week campaign aimed at improved triage and diminished pre-emptive opening of sterile materials led to a > 50% reduction in waste to incinerate.
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