“CARBON FOOTPRINT OF LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY: A LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS AND REDUCTION STRATEGY FROM AN INDIAN GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL” drpremk512@gmail.com

 

“CARBON FOOTPRINT OF LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY: A LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS AND REDUCTION STRATEGY FROM AN INDIAN GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL”

1

India

Oral only

Operating rooms are among the most resource-intensive environments in hospitals, contributing significantly to healthcare’s carbon footprint. Laparoscopic surgery, though minimally invasive and patient-friendly, often relies on single-use plastics, energy-intensive devices, and significant packaging waste. While global studies have begun quantifying the environmental impact of minimal access surgery, there is a paucity of data from the Indian public healthcare setting. This study aimed to assess the carbon footprint of laparoscopic surgeries in a tertiary government hospital and evaluate practical interventions to reduce environmental impact.

A prospective observational study was conducted between April 2024 and June 2025 at a government teaching hospital in South India. We performed a lifecycle analysis (LCA) of 50 elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies using international LCA protocols. The carbon footprint was calculated by measuring emissions from key contributors: single-use instruments and disposables, reusable equipment sterilization, CO₂ insufflation, OR HVAC and lighting energy use, packaging waste, and PPE. Following the baseline phase (25 cases)

The mean carbon footprint per laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the baseline group was 56.2 kg CO₂e, aligning with international data. The largest contributors were: Single-use items and packaging: 42% OR HVAC and lighting: 28% Sterilization of reusables: 12% CO₂ insufflation: 9%

Laparoscopic surgery in public hospitals contributes a measurable carbon footprint, primarily through disposable instrument use and OR energy consumption. A structured approach using lifecycle analysis and simple sustainability interventions can reduce emissions by nearly 30%