Development of an Environmental Impact Calculator for Minimally Invasive Cholecystectomy: Protocol and Methodological Framework of the ECOMIS Project
One of the greatest threats to public health in the 21st century is anthropogenic climate change. Healthcare services worldwide account for 4.9% of global CO2 emissions, with operating rooms being the most resource-intensive areas of the hospital. The need for environmentally sustainable change is a priority. Reliable quantitative data on emissions remain limited, which may hinder informed decision-making on surgical sustainability. The aim of this study is to develop and validate an easily accessible and user-friendly calculator to quantitatively estimate procedure-related carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions of minimally invasive cholecystectomy across a range of countries, hospital volumes, and healthcare settings. The ECOMIS project follows a multiphase, stepwise design. The present study will focus on minimally invasive cholecystectomies. The calculator variables will be selected based on a systematic literature review of factors influencing CO2-eq emissions, with life cycle assessment (LCA) considered an established and comprehensive methodology for assessing CO2-eq emissions. The project will generate a comprehensive quantitative overview of the environmental impact associated with key variables involved in minimally invasive surgery. This tool has the potential to facilitate tailor-made and evidence-based decision-making and promote more sustainable surgical practices.
Authors
- Barbara Seeliger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7451-7545)
- Lisa H. Massey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1699-8034)
- Marc G. Besselink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2650-9350)
- Mark I. van Berge Henegouwen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8689-3134)
- Natalia Dowgiałło‐Gornowicz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2204-5088)
- Hidde Overtoom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7257-9707)
- Suzanne Sarah Gisbertz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9655-7601)
- Myrthe M.M. Eussen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6686-0237)
- Patricia A. Sylla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9737-994X)
- Stefania Marconi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4608-6180)
- Mark Portelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7173-8510)
- Nicole D. Bouvy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4070-8559)
- Sergi Sánchez-Cordero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1367-283X)
- Jada Saunders (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2257-0851)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Mount Sinai Health System (US)
- Mount Sinai Hospital (US)
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- Inserm (FR)
- University of Pavia (IT)
- Dutch Cancer Society (NL)
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
- Mater Dei Hospital (MT)
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (FR)
- Amsterdam Neuroscience (NL)
- Hospital de Sant Joan Despí Moisès Broggi (ES)
- Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (FR)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Institut de Chirurgie Guidée par l'Image (FR)
- Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg (FR)
- Cancer Center Amsterdam (NL)
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism (NL)
- University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (PL)
- Université de Strasbourg (FR)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Healthcare
- Published
- 2026-10-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14213622
- Primary Topic
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Association for Endoscopic Surgery and other Interventional Techniques