Surgical Tray Set Rationalization at an Elective Surgical Hub in England: Methodology, Feasibility, Implementation and Impact on Financial Costs and Carbon Emissions

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the impact of rationalizing general surgery surgical tray sets at an elective surgical hub in England. METHODS: This was an analysis of data collected prospectively for a clinical quality improvement project between 25th March and 20th June 2024. Baseline data on use of surgical instruments for four general surgery procedures were collected, and the items categorized as high, medium and low use. Meetings were then held with surgical and operational teams involved in delivering each procedure and a set of surgical instruments for each procedure agreed upon and a rationalized tray was formed. RESULTS: e annually may be realized if rationalization avoids opening a second tray to obtain items not present for use on a single tray. CONCLUSIONS: Rationalization of surgical trays can reduce financial costs and carbon emissions. It may also yield co-benefits in terms of enhancing theater efficiency.