Reducing the consumption of single-use surgical equipment
A general surgery team from the Trust were finalists in the Green Surgery Challenge 2021, thanks to their project on reducing the consumption of single-use surgical equipment.
The Trust team were one of six teams chosen to take part in the nationwide competition, which was supported by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, with the intention of using sustainable quality improvement (SusQI) methodology to improve surgical sustainability.
The team pitched the concept of sustainable healthcare principles to their colleagues and carried out a survey to identify the most commonly used single-use surgical instruments within general surgery. It was quickly identified that disposable instruments were frequently used during laparoscopic appendectomies and so the team conducted an audit to investigate.
“From surveying the surgical department we were able to identify the need to streamline the instrument set for laparoscopic appendectomies, by reducing the number of single use items added into the reusable set and switching to reusable ports,” explains Mr Peter Labib, General Surgery Registrar. “We worked out that on average, we could avoid using around four to five items per surgery, and with around 500 appendectomies being performed here at Derriford each year, that could translate to a saving of approximately 2,200 items per year.”
The team proposed a revised laparoscopic appendectomy procedure set that includes reusable replacements for the commonly used single-use items. The proposed amendments to the instruments would not only significantly reduce the carbon footprint, but also the financial cost of the procedure – a saving of around £34,000 every year for the seven year lifespan of the new instruments.
Peter and his colleagues presented their project at the virtual Green Surgery Conference on Thursday 04 November and came second following a decision by the live judging panel at the integrated awards ceremony.
To find out more about the Plymouth team’s project, visit the Sustainable Healthcare website: https://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/news/2021/09/introducing-team-1-green-surgery-challenge
