Vergara Rémi, Théate Ivan, Boor Peter, Gordon Ilyssa O, West Jonathan, Abdelmoula Selma, Tilmant Cyprien, Wiseman Pinto Roque Gabriel, Gaillot-Durand Lucie, Scott Sheri, Trecourt Alexis, Rullier Anne
Department of Surgical Pathology, CHU de Bordeaux Pôle biologie et pathologie, Bordeaux, France
Department of Pathology, CHU UCL Namur, Yvoir, Belgium.
J Clin Pathol. 2025 Mar 19;78(4):233-239. doi: 10.1136/jcp-2024-209555.
The healthcare sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, with surgical pathology (SP) playing a notable role. This review explores the ecological transformation of SP, offering a global overview of existing challenges and sustainable initiatives worldwide.While some countries, such as the UK and France, have developed national strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare, including SP, many regions remain at an early stage of implementing green practices. Several studies have assessed the carbon footprint of SP, focusing on key aspects such as laboratory operations, pathology procedures and functional units, highlighting materials and transportation as major contributors to emissions. The integration of digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities to enhance efficiency and address medical deserts but also poses challenges due to the associated energy consumption.Local initiatives such as the 'Transformation Ecologique en Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques' (Ecological transformation in SP) or TEAP collective in France, Belgium's 'Green Team' and sustainable practices in Tunisia and New Zealand demonstrate the global effort to reduce the environmental impact of SP. Key strategies discussed include ecodesign of care, circular economy practices, green AI and partnerships with industry. However, achieving meaningful reductions in SP's environmental impact requires international cooperation and support from national health policies. This review emphasises the importance of collaborative efforts to implement sustainable solutions without compromising the quality and safety of healthcare services.
医疗保健部门对全球温室气体排放有重大贡献，手术病理学（SP）在其中发挥了显著作用。本综述探讨了手术病理学的生态转型，对全球范围内现有的挑战和可持续发展举措进行了全面概述。虽然一些国家，如英国和法国，已经制定了国家战略来减少包括手术病理学在内的医疗保健行业的碳足迹，但许多地区在实施绿色实践方面仍处于早期阶段。多项研究评估了手术病理学的碳足迹，重点关注实验室操作、病理程序和功能单元等关键方面，强调材料和运输是排放的主要贡献因素。数字病理学和人工智能（AI）的整合为提高效率和解决医疗资源匮乏问题带来了机遇，但由于相关的能源消耗也带来了挑战。法国的“病理学解剖与细胞病理学生态转型”（TEAP）集体、比利时的“绿色团队”以及突尼斯和新西兰的可持续实践等地方举措，展示了全球为减少手术病理学对环境的影响所做的努力。讨论的关键战略包括护理的生态设计、循环经济实践、绿色人工智能以及与行业的伙伴关系。然而，要实现手术病理学对环境影响的显著降低，需要国际合作以及国家卫生政策的支持。本综述强调了在不影响医疗服务质量和安全的前提下，共同努力实施可持续解决方案的重要性。
