Version 1
: Received: 1 September 2023 / Approved: 4 September 2023 / Online: 4 September 2023 (08:29:01 CEST)
How to cite:
Shah, S.; George, K.J.; Barnard, H. The Carbon Footprint of Spinal Surgery: Experiences of a Tertiary Centre. Preprints2023, 2023090135. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202309.0135.v1
Shah, S.; George, K.J.; Barnard, H. The Carbon Footprint of Spinal Surgery: Experiences of a Tertiary Centre. Preprints 2023, 2023090135. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202309.0135.v1
Shah, S.; George, K.J.; Barnard, H. The Carbon Footprint of Spinal Surgery: Experiences of a Tertiary Centre. Preprints2023, 2023090135. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202309.0135.v1
APA Style
Shah, S., George, K.J., & Barnard, H. (2023). The Carbon Footprint of Spinal Surgery: Experiences of a Tertiary Centre. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202309.0135.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Shah, S., Kuriakose Joshi George and Heidi Barnard. 2023 "The Carbon Footprint of Spinal Surgery: Experiences of a Tertiary Centre" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202309.0135.v1
Abstract
The operating theatre represents a key contributor to healthcare-derived emissions. Here, we outline the carbon footprint of a lumbar microdiscectomy at our regional unit in Greater Manchester, with the use of AI technology. In doing so, we aim to define the extent of the environmental impact and identify carbon hotspots for sustainable change. Our unit of analysis covered the start of the patient journey into hospital through to the final outpatient appointment. Publicly available and locally sourced data was used. An inventory analysis of two lumbar microdiscectomies was conducted. Each item was categorised reconciled against our AI-powered ‘CO2 analysis’ database. Kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2e) was chosen as the primary measure of impact. An average lumbar microdiscectomy at our trust generates 477.73kg CO2e. The operation (173.89kg CO2e, 36.40%) and the inpatient stay (144.67kg CO2e, 30.28%) constituted the biggest contributors. Single-use intraoperative equipment contributed to over three-quarters of the total emissions from the operation. By defining the environmental burden of elective spinal surgery, we have identified carbon hotspots to target for sustainable change. Substituting polluting elements for carbon-friendly alternatives and challenging the single-use culture, modern healthcare systems can help pave the way to a ‘net zero’ healthcare system.
Keywords
Carbon footprint; life-cycle analysis; net zero; lumbar microdiscectomy; artificial intelligence
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Pollution
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
