Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London.
Curr Opin Urol. 2024 Sep 1;34(5):390-395. doi: 10.1097/MOU.0000000000001196. Epub 2024 Jun 6.
There is an ever-growing focus on climate change and its impact on our society. With healthcare contributing a sizeable proportion of carbon emissions, the sector has a duty to address its environmental impact. We highlight the recent progress, current challenges, and future prospects for reducing the carbon footprint in diagnostic urology, specifically for imaging, without compromising patient care.
The review is separated into four key areas of recent research: the design of a green radiology department, considering both infrastructural as well as behavioural changes that promote sustainability; individual scanners, where we provide an update on recent technological advancements and changes in behaviour that may enhance sustainable use; responsible resource allocation, where it is important to derive the maximal benefit for patients through the smallest use of resources; the recent research regarding single versus reusable urologic endoscopes as a case example.
We offer an overview of the present sustainability landscape in diagnostic urology with the aim of encouraging additional research in areas where existing practices may be challenged. To protect the environment, attention is drawn to both more simple steps that can be taken as well as some more complex and expensive ones.
气候变化及其对社会的影响受到了越来越多的关注。医疗保健行业的碳排放量占很大比例，因此有责任解决其环境影响。我们强调了在诊断泌尿科领域减少碳足迹的最新进展、当前挑战和未来前景，特别是在不影响患者护理的情况下减少影像学检查的碳足迹。
本综述分为四个关键领域的最新研究：绿色放射科的设计，包括基础设施和促进可持续性的行为改变；单个扫描仪，我们提供了最新技术进步和可能增强可持续使用的行为改变的最新信息；负责任的资源分配，通过最小化资源使用为患者获得最大收益非常重要；最近关于泌尿科内窥镜一次性使用与可重复使用的研究作为一个案例。
我们概述了诊断泌尿科目前的可持续性现状，旨在鼓励在现有实践可能受到挑战的领域进行更多研究。为了保护环境，我们既要关注可以采取的更简单的措施，也要关注一些更复杂和昂贵的措施。
