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Scientific Oral Presentations

Business of Medicine/Practice Management

Session: Scientific Oral Presentations - Business of Medicine/Practice Management

Environmental Impact of Flexible Single-Use and Reusable Video Laryngoscopes

Sunday, September 29, 2024
2:48 PM – 2:54 PM EDT
Location: MBCC, 233
Disclosure(s):
Luke J. Pasick, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Jake A. Langlie, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

David E. Rosow, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Flexible single-use video laryngoscopes are growing in popularity due to cost-effectiveness and convenience. The environmental impact of disposable laryngoscopes has not yet been assessed.

Methods: Life cycle analyses were conducted for single-use Ambu aScope 4 RhinoLaryngo Slim (Ambu Inc., Columbia, MD), Video Rhino-Laryngoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), and reusable Storz Video Rhinolaryngoscope 1101HD. Data regarding life cycle, manual reprocessing, and waste disposal at our institution were collected. The lifetime carbon footprint of each device was calculated and included emissions related to: manufacturing, transportation, sterilization, repair, and disposal. The carbon footprint of each device per procedure was assessed.

Results: The total estimated carbon footprint per procedure for single-use Ambu and Storz laryngoscopes is 7.46 and 5.49 kg CO2, respectively. The mass of solid waste of single-use laryngoscopes and packaging contribute to carbon emissions of 0.173 and 0.40 kg CO2 for Ambu and Storz laryngoscopes, respectively. Reusable laryngoscopes are estimated to have a carbon footprint of 0.1137 kg CO2 per procedure at our institution. The greatest contributions to carbon footprint during reusable laryngoscope manual reprocessing include personal protective equipment solid waste and electrical energy (0.0859 and 0.016 kg CO2, respectively).

Conclusions: The carbon footprint of single-use laryngoscopes is estimated to range from 1.5-fold (based on solid waste alone) up to 66-fold greater than traditional reusable laryngoscopes, although the use of water and chemicals for reprocessing must also be considered. Otolaryngologists ought to consider the environmental impact of both reusable and single-use laryngoscopes; carbon footprint reduction initiatives should be pursued.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • LP

    Luke J. Pasick, MD

    Resident
    University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
    Miami, Florida, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Jake A. Langlie, MD

    Otolaryngology Resident PGY-1
    Jackson Memorial Hospital and University of Miami Health System
    Miami, Florida, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • EB

    Eve Bowers, MD

    University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • David E. Rosow, MD

    Professor of Otolaryngology, Division of Laryngology
    University of Miami Health System
    Miami, FL, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.