The carbon footprint of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Lay Summary Background Gallbladder removal is one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide. The keyhole operation treats patients with symptomatic gallstones. This procedure uses many single-use tools and results in a lot of waste. Before we can make this operation more sustainable, we need to assess the amount of waste and CO2 emissions. Aim The aim of this study was to identify the types of waste and measure the CO2 emissions created by a gallbladder removal. Method We collected waste from 15 gallbladder operations at three hospitals. We noted the medications used and measured the surgery duration to estimate electricity consumption. We also asked all the staff how they travelled to the hospital that day. Findings and Conclusion The operation produces about 56.5 kg of CO2. The main sources of CO2 are single-use tools, packaging materials and disposable drapes and gowns. This study helps us understand where most CO2 is produced, so we can work on reducing it more effectively.