Standardizing surgical equipment pick lists for sustainability: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Operations
• Health Economics

Background:

• Surgical pick lists are often overstocked due to infrequent review, leading to significant financial and environmental waste.
• Standardization of these lists is a proposed strategy to mitigate resource consumption and reduce waste in surgical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize the published impacts of surgical pick list standardization initiatives.
• To evaluate the effects on costs, patient outcomes, and healthcare provider satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science).
• Eleven relevant studies were identified and included for analysis.

Main Results:

• Standardization initiatives consistently demonstrated substantial cost savings.
• No increase in adverse events was reported; operative time changes were minimal and varied.
• Environmental impacts showed significant potential savings, though this was explored in only one study.
• The initiatives were generally well-received by perioperative personnel.

Conclusions:

• Pick list standardization is a safe and cost-effective approach for surgical settings.
• The strategy is acceptable to perioperative staff and offers potential environmental advantages.
• Further research is needed to fully explore the environmental benefits of pick list standardization.