Sustainable surgery: how can it be implemented?

In this article below, highly accomplished consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Preetham Kodumuri, discusses the impact that surgery has on the environment, and how carrying out sustainable surgery can reduce the amount of waste generated by modern-day surgical operations.

How do medicine and surgery impact the environment?

The impact of medicine and surgery on the environment is huge. In healthcare, we are the biggest carbon footprint generators in the world.

What is meant by sustainable surgery?

Sustainable surgery essentially means changing how we practise surgery and how we use medicine, and coming up with more alternative models of care, where we are not generating as much waste.

What are the principal challenges in making surgical processes sustainable?

The main challenge is actually getting the people in the unit to sit up and listen to you. So, I would say change and getting used to change is the biggest barrier. Convincing hospital management is also a significant challenge.

What steps can be taken to improve sustainability in surgery?

There are many steps that can be taken. There are many small changes that can be carried out inside the theatre, such as recycling, and reducing clinical waste when carrying out surgery.

How widespread are sustainability practices in surgery? What are your hopes for the future?

Within surgery itself, sustainability is coming to the forefront. The principles are the exact same for each practising medical professional: to try and reduce as much clinical waste as possible, to try to recycle as much as possible, and to try to decrease the use of single-use instruments or equipment.

There are more national collaborative projects that will come to fruition in the next two to three years regarding sustainability in healthcare.

Mr Preetham Kodumuri is an established and well-respected consultant orthopaedic surgeon who is prioritising the practising of sustainable surgery. For more information about this, you can consult Mr Kodumuri by visiting his Top Doctors profile today.