Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a bariatric surgical unit is a complex but feasible project

Abstract

Obesity is a growing issue worldwide, whose causes and consequences are linked to the environment and which therefore has a high carbon footprint. On the other hand, obesity surgery, along with other procedures in surgical suites, entails environmental consequences and responsibilities. We conducted a prospective comparative study on two groups of bariatric interventions (N = 59 and 56, respectively) during two consecutive periods of time (Oct 2021–March 2022), first without and then with specific measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to bariatric procedures by approximately 18%. These measures included recycling of disposable surgical equipment, minimizing its use, and curbing anesthetic gas emissions. Further and continuous efforts/incentives are warranted, including reframing the surgical strategies. Instead of comparing measurements, which is difficult at the present time, we suggest defining an ECO-SCORE in operating rooms, among other healthcare facilities.