DR. SNIGDHA MISHRA

, Dr. RENGARAJ VENKATESH

Abstract

Aim: To show a way ahead for the world for practicing an environmentally sustainable surgical system by optimising surgical resources.

Methods: All pharmaceuticals, eye drops are used on multiple patients until the bottle is empty or until the end of the operating day. The phaco cassette which is usually discarded after every surgery, are instead used for the entire day. All reusable instruments are sterilised after every case in a 30-minute flash autoclave cycle. At the end of the operating day, these instruments are autoclaved for a full 1-hour cycle in the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD). The OR waste is segregated at source which goes to the waste disposal room, where it is either sent for incineration or for recycling.

Results: For every phaco surgery, Our hospital generates only 0.25 Kg of waste compared to 2.25 Kgs generated in the USA.

Conclusions: Our model has thus created an efficient system without compromising the postoperative infection and complication rates.