Climate change represents one of the greatest global health challenges of the 21st century, with healthcare systems responsible for approximately 5% of worldwide carbon emissions. Surgery is recognised as a major contributor. To better understand current practice, VERN, in collaboration with the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland (VSGBI), undertook an international survey of vascular healthcare professionals to evaluate existing green initiatives, identify opportunities for improvement, and explore barriers to implementing more sustainable practice.
The survey was conducted between June 2023 and September 2023 and included responses from a total of 115 vascular health care professionals from 14 countries. There was considerable variability in green practices between centres in the pre-operative phase, intra-operative phase, and post-operative phase.
Most respondents reported that environmental sustainability was never discussed in departmental meetings, and that available guidance such as The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist was not used but respondents were supportive of its introduction. The use of disposable theatre materials was routine in most centres but respondents would be receptive to reusable alternatives and most centres did not have measures in place to reduce water usage (such as pedal or automated taps for scrubbing). The survey concluded that there are several ways vascular theatre practices could be greener and that most respondents were receptive to further research and the implementation of guidance such as The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist.
Greener was presented in the Vice President Symposium at Vascular Societies annual meeting in 2023. It has also been published in the Journal of Vascular Societies of Great Britain and Ireland as well as in the Annuals of Vascular Surgery