Improving Environmental Sustainability of Operating Theatres: A Systematic Review of Staff Attitudes, Barriers, and Enablers.

OBJECTIVE: To understand views of staff in relation to attitudes, enablers, and barriers to implementation of environmentally sustainable surgery in operating theatres. This will ultimately help in the goal of successfully implementing more sustainable theatres. SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Global healthcare sectors are responsible for 4.4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Surgical operating theatres are resource intensive areas and improvements will be important to meet Net-Zero carbon emissions within healthcare. METHODS: Three databases were searched (Web of Science, Ovid and PubMed), last check January 2024. We included original manuscripts evaluating staff views regarding sustainable operating theatres. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal and data analysed using thematic synthesis. RESULTS: 2933 articles were screened and 14 fulfilled inclusion criteria, using qualitative (1), quantitative (2), and mixed methods (11). Studies were undertaken in a variety of clinical (Department of Anaesthesia, Surgery, Otolaryngology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Ophthalmology) and geographical settings (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, USA, UK & Ireland,). Across studies there was a lack of evidence exploring enablers to implementation, but barriers mainly related to the following themes: education and awareness, leadership, resistance to change, facilities and equipment, time, and incentive. CONCLUSION: This systematic review identified attitudes and barriers perceived by clinicians towards improving environmental sustainability within operating theatres, which may inform future strategy towards sustainable surgery. Most studies used a survey-design, whereas use of interviews may provide deeper insights. Future work should be extended to wider stakeholders influencing operating theatres. Additionally, implementation studies should be carried out to examine whether barriers do change in practice. This systematic review identified attitudes and barriers perceived by clinicians towards improving environmental sustainability within operating theatres, which may inform future strategy towards sustainable surgery. Most studies used a survey-design, whereas use of interviews may provide deeper insights. Future work should be extended to wider stakeholders influencing operating theatres. Additionally, implementation studies should be carried out to examine whether barriers do change in practice.

How useful is antireflux surgery in lung transplant patients with gastroesophageal reflux?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Respiratory function deteriorates over time after lung transplant. Reflux disease with pulmonary complications is a possible cause of this decline. This case series we aim to assess whether respiratory function improves after Nissen fundoplication in lung transplant patients and if surgery reduces gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series of lung transplant patients with reflux disease and Nissen fundoplication. Clinical symptoms, pH-metry data, use of PPIs were recorded before the procedure and up to 18 months postoperatively. The FEV1 values before and after Nissen fundoplication were recorded at 3 monthly intervals. Patients' satisfaction scores were recorded before operation and postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 64 lung transplant patients were selected. After Nissen fundoplication, the pH studies were done on 26 patients. The mean overall acid exposure fraction was 1.03% (P<0.05). FEV1 declined for 6 months postoperatively and then gradually improved. The comparison of FEV1 at 3 months preoperatively to 3 months postoperatively showed no significant difference (P=0.067) as well as at 6 months. A significant improvement in clinical GERD symptoms was achieved after antireflux surgery; however, the patients remained receiving PPIs. CONCLUSIONS: NF has been established as a safe operation for lung transplant patients. Late Nissen fundoplication did not improve lung function significantly amongst lung transplanted patients; however, patients with symptomatic GERD may have benefited from Nissen fundoplication in terms of symptom relief. A multicenter randomized control trial is needed to assess the effect of early unselected reflux control on respiratory function and graft survival.

Greener Operations: a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership to define research priorities in environmentally sustainable perioperative practice through a structured consensus approach.

OBJECTIVES: To agree on the 'top 10' research priorities for environmentally sustainable perioperative practice. DESIGN: Surveys and literature review; final consensus workshop using a nominal group technique. SETTING: UK-based setting. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare professionals, patients, carers and the public. OUTCOME MEASURES: Initial survey-suggested research questions; interim survey-shortlist of 'indicative' questions (the 20 most frequently nominated by patients, carers and the public, and healthcare professionals); final workshop-ranked research priorities. RESULTS: Initial survey-1926 suggestions by 296 respondents, refined into 60 indicative questions. Interim survey-325 respondents. Final workshop-21 participants agreed the 'top 10': (1) How can more sustainable reusable equipment safely be used during and around the time of an operation? (2) How can healthcare organisations more sustainably procure (obtain) medicines, equipment and items used during and around the time of an operation? (3) How can healthcare professionals who deliver care during and around the time of an operation be encouraged to adopt sustainable actions in practice? (4) Can more efficient use of operating theatres and associated practices reduce the environmental impact of operations? (5) How can the amount of waste generated during and around the time of an operation be minimised? (6) How do we measure and compare the short-term and long-term environmental impacts of surgical and non-surgical treatments for the same condition? (7) What is the environmental impact of different anaesthetic techniques (eg, different types of general, regional and local anaesthesia) used for the same operation? (8) How should the environmental impact of an operation be weighed against its clinical outcomes and financial costs? (9) How can environmental sustainability be incorporated into the organisational management of operating theatres? (10) What are the most sustainable forms of effective infection prevention and control used around the time of an operation (eg, personal protective equipment, drapes, clean air ventilation)? CONCLUSIONS: A broad range of 'end-users' have identified research priorities for sustainable perioperative care.

Gender diversity in UK surgical specialties: a national observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare gender diversity between UK surgical specialties, assess trends over time, and estimate when gender parity might be achieved. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: National Health Service, UK. PARTICIPANTS: NHS Hospital & Community Health Service workforce statistics for 2011 to 2020 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Logistic regression was used to compare female representation in 2020 between surgical specialties, and to examine for any significant trends between 2011 and 2020. The method of least squares was used to estimate when female representation of specialty registrars would reach 50% ('gender parity') for specialties with <40% female representation. RESULTS: In 2020, female consultant and specialty registrar representation was significantly different between surgical specialties (both p<0.001). Female representation for each specialty were as follows (from highest to lowest): Specialty Registrars-Ophthalmology 49.7%, Otolaryngology 48.2%, Paediatric Surgery 45.5%, Plastic Surgery 42.2%, General Surgery 39.8%, Urology 31.6%, Vascular Surgery 25.0%, Neurosurgery 24.7%, Cardiothoracic Surgery 21.3%, and Trauma and Orthopaedics 20.6%; Consultants-Ophthalmology 32.4%, Paediatric Surgery 31.7%, Plastic Surgery 20.9%, General Surgery 17.5%, Otolaryngology 17%, Vascular Surgery 13.7%, Urology 11.7%, Cardiothoracic Surgery 10.8%, Neurosurgery 8.2%, and Trauma and Orthopaedics 7.3%. There was a significant positive trend in female representation of specialty registrars between 2011 and 2020 for all specialties except for Paediatric Surgery (representation consistently >45%) and Vascular Surgery (representation consistently <30%). General Surgery was estimated to achieve gender parity of their specialty registrars by 2028, Urology by 2033, Neurosurgery by 2064, Trauma and Orthopaedics by 2070, and Cardiothoracic Surgery by 2082. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements over the last decade, gender disparity persists in the UK surgical workforce and there are significant differences between surgical specialties. Further work is necessary to establish the reasons for these observed differences with a specific focus on Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Aortocaval fistula: current management strategies.

BACKGROUND: There has been a trend towards favouring endovascular repair for much acute aortic pathology. We undertook a review of the literature to determine if an endovascular approach could complement the traditional treatment of aortocaval fistula (ACF), a rare complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS: A literature search was undertaken on PubMed using appropriate search terms. Case series and reviews reporting presentation, diagnosis and operative management (open and endovascular techniques) of ACF were selected and discussed. RESULTS: Open surgical treatment of ACF has an associated morbidity and mortality - mainly from excessive blood loss. Open repair mortality rates are reported around 30%, but some centres report far lower rates based on preoperative diagnosis of the ACF. These rates appear to be reduced when using endovascular repair in selected cases, with success rates of up to 96%. Reiteration of the importance of diagnosis of ACF preoperatively was the common denominator with both open and endovascular repair. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular exclusion appears to be an efficacious means of treating ACF and averting the significant blood loss commonly encountered in conventional repair of these lesions. However, some reviews have suggested equal success with open repair. There is limited available published literature on ACF management and outcome, and likely reporting bias attached to both open and endovascular results that are published. With a randomized controlled trial unlikely to occur, a prospective registry may provide better outcome data.