What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim was to quantify the carbon footprint of arterial vascular procedures and identify ways to decrease environmental impact.

March 29, 2026

SRS215 - Calculating and reducing the environmental impact of hybrid endovascular surgery

Puntos clave

The aim was to quantify the carbon footprint of arterial vascular procedures and identify ways to decrease environmental impact.
Conducted a prospective observational study at a vascular surgery center.
Focused on four procedure types: simple EVAR, complex EVAR, percutaneous lower limb revascularisation, and hybrid lower limb revascularisation.
Collected real-time data on devices, consumables, and waste for each intervention.
Used life-cycle assessment to evaluate emissions from raw material extraction to disposal.
Found significant variation in carbon emissions between procedures, with complex EVAR having the highest emissions.
Identified that median emissions for complex EVAR equate to driving approximately 418 miles in a petrol vehicle.
Observed a strong correlation between theatre personnel numbers and single-use item waste, suggesting staffing levels contribute to waste.
Identified reduction opportunities through percutaneous techniques and reusable surgical materials.

Resumen

Abstract The healthcare sector is a substantial contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with surgical services accounting for a significant proportion due to the use of single-use consumables, volatile anaesthetic agents, and energy-intensive infrastructure, including ventilation, lighting 0.05), with complex EVAR associated with the highest median emissions, reflecting greater resource intensity and procedural complexity. Median emissions for complex EVAR were equivalent to driving approximately 418 miles in a standard petrol vehicle. A strong positive correlation was seen between the number of theatre personnel and the volume of single-use wearable items (Spearman’s ρ = 0.878, P 0.001), suggesting staffing levels contribute meaningfully to procedural waste. Opportunities to reduce emissions were identified, including use of percutaneous techniques, reusable surgical textiles, sustainable packaging strategies and imaging optimisation. This pilot study represents the first observational quantification of the carbon footprint associated with common arterial vascular procedures and identifies targets for sustainability interventions within vascular surgery.

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