Researchers from University Hospitals Plymouth Report Findings in Sustainability Research (Revising a Laparoscopic Appendicectomy Set To Reduce Reliance On Disposable Surgical Instruments: Supporting the Transition To Sustainable Surgical...).

Researchers from University Hospitals Plymouth in the United Kingdom conducted a sustainable quality improvement project to reduce the unnecessary usage of disposable surgical instruments in laparoscopic appendicectomy procedures. They audited 25 consecutive surgeries and calculated the financial and environmental costs of disposable instruments. After implementing a revised surgical set with additional reusable instruments, there was a significant reduction in disposable instrument usage. The revised set is predicted to save money and reduce carbon emissions over the estimated seven-year lifecycle of the reusable instruments. This research supports the transition to sustainable surgical practices. [Extracted from the article]