TWO REALITIES, TWO CONTINENTS: AN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON LICHTENSTEIN TECHNIQUE IN PORTUGAL AND BRAZIL carlotaduartemiranda@gmail.com

295-09

TWO REALITIES, TWO CONTINENTS: AN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON LICHTENSTEIN TECHNIQUE IN PORTUGAL AND BRAZIL

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Portugal

Oral or Poster

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed procedures in General Surgery. The Lichtenstein technique is widely adopted worldwide. In recent years, there has been growing interest in assessing the environmental impact of surgical procedures, considering not only direct costs but also the carbon footprint associated with material use. Differences in hospital policies and resource management can significantly influence this impact.

A comparative analysis was conducted of Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasties performed between April 1st and June 30th in a public hospital in Brazil and a hospital in Portugal. In both centers, a detailed inventory of single-use materials employed per procedure was recorded. Using carbon emission factors from reference databases (Green Surgery Protocol, NHS Sustainable Healthcare) the carbon footprint of each intervention was estimated.

The Brazilian hospital demonstrated a lower consumption of single-use materials, with a predominance of reusable instruments and components, whereas the Portuguese hospital showed higher reliance on disposable items. The analysis suggests that these differences stem primarily from institutional purchasing and supply policies rather than technical variations in the procedure. However, the total number of elective inguinal hernia repairs performed was lower in the Brazilian center.

The Lichtenstein technique shows marked differences in material consumption patterns between the two countries, directly influencing the associated carbon footprint. Implementing strategies that combine surgical safety with resource optimization may reduce costs and environmental impact, underscoring the importance of integrating sustainability criteria into hospital decision-making.