Sustainability in surgical practice: a collaborative call toward environmental sustainability in operating rooms

Shaneeta M. Johnson*, Stefania Marconi, Manuel Sanchez-Casalongue, Nader Francis, Bright Huo, Adnan Alseidi, Yewande R. Alimi, Andrea Pietrabissa, Alberto Arezzo, Maximos Frountzas, Vittoria Bellato, Oleksii Potapov, Paul Barach, Miran Rems, Ricardo J. Bello, Sheetal Nijhawan, Wendelyn M. Oslock, Tejas S. Sathe, Ryan P. Hall, Benjamin MillerSarah Samreen, Jimmy Chung, Nana Marfo, Robert B. Lim, Jonathan Vandeberg, Myrthe M. Eussen, Nicole D. Bouvy, Patricia Sylla

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: The healthcare system plays a pivotal role in environmental sustainability, and the operating room (OR) significantly contributes to its overall carbon footprint. In response to this critical challenge, leading medical societies, government bodies, regulatory agencies, and industry stakeholders are taking measures to address healthcare sustainability and its impact on climate change. Healthcare now represents almost 20% of the US national economy and 8.5% of US carbon emissions. Internationally, healthcare represents 5% of global carbon emissions. US Healthcare is an outlier in both per capita cost, and per capita greenhouse gas emission, with almost twice per capita emissions compared to every other country in the world. Methods: The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) established the Sustainability in Surgical Practice joint task force in 2023. This collaborative effort aims to actively promote education, mitigation, and innovation, steering surgical practices toward a more sustainable future. Results: Several key initiatives have included a survey of members' knowledge and awareness, a scoping review of terminology, metrics, and initiatives, and deep engagement of key stakeholders. Discussion: This position paper serves as a Call to Action, proposing a series of actions to catalyze and accelerate the surgical sustainability leadership needed to respond effectively to climate change, and to lead the societal transformation towards health that our times demand.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4127-4137
Number of pages11
JournalSurgical endoscopy and other interventional techniques
Volume38
Issue number8
Early online date1 Jan 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2024

Keywords

  • Carbon footprint
  • Climate change
  • Decarbonization
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Green operating rooms
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Surgical practice
  • Surgical sustainability

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