Chen Kuan-Jen, Chen Lung-Ching, Liou Jer-Young, Hung Huei-Fong, Lin Shen-Chang, Shyu Kou-Gi, Lee Shih-Huang, Chang Che-Ming, Chao Shu-Ping, Wang Tzu-Lin, Wei Cheng-Chun, Liao Zhen-Yu, Jong Bor-Hsin, Chou Ching-Yao, Chuang Cheng-Yen, Lai Wei-Ting, Charng Min-Ji, Lin Donna Shu-Han, Lo Hao-Yun, Chua Su-Kiat
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei.
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Acta Cardiol Sin. 2025 Jul;41(4):539-548. doi: 10.6515/ACS.202507_41(4).20250224G.
Cardiac catheterization laboratories (CCLs) contribute significantly to hospital waste and environmental impact. While sustainability efforts in healthcare are growing, comprehensive strategies for waste reduction in CCLs remain limited.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a quality improvement initiative in reducing waste output and enhancing recycling practices in a high-volume CCL.
A one-year study was conducted in a single-center CCL performing approximately 2,800 annual procedures. Interventions included staff education, waste tracking, improved segregation, forming a sustainability team, and regular progress updates. Waste outputs were measured at baseline, one month, three months, and one year post-intervention. Carbon footprint reductions were calculated using emission factors of 340.00 kg/ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCOe) for incinerated waste and 0.11 kg/tCOe for recyclable glass.
Over one year, infectious waste decreased by 35.4% [from 2.38 ± 0.40 to 1.54 ± 0.09 kilogram per procedure (kg/procedure)], and general waste decreased by 26.4% (from 0.83 ± 0.14 to 0.61 ± 0.03 kg/procedure). Recyclable paper increased by 55.5% (from 0.30 ± 0.05 to 0.47 ± 0.03 kg/procedure). The estimated annual carbon footprint reduction was 1,084.2 kg carbon dioxide equivalent.
Sustainability initiatives can significantly reduce waste and carbon emissions in CCLs while promoting recycling. This study provides a practical framework for advancing environmental sustainability in high-volume CCLs.
心脏导管实验室（CCLs）对医院废物及环境影响有重大贡献。尽管医疗保健领域的可持续发展努力不断增加，但CCLs减少废物的综合策略仍然有限。
本研究评估了一项质量改进举措在减少高流量CCL废物产出及加强回收利用实践方面的有效性。
在一个单中心CCL进行了为期一年的研究，该CCL每年约进行2800例手术。干预措施包括员工教育、废物追踪、改进分类、组建可持续发展团队以及定期更新进展情况。在干预前、干预后1个月、3个月和1年测量废物产出。使用焚烧废物的排放因子340.00千克/吨二氧化碳当量（tCOe）和可回收玻璃的排放因子0.11千克/tCOe计算碳足迹减少量。
在一年时间里，感染性废物减少了35.4%[从每例手术2.38±0.40千克降至1.54±0.09千克（kg/例）]，普通废物减少了26.4%（从0.83±0.14降至0.61±0.03 kg/例）。可回收纸张增加了55.5%（从0.30±0.05增至0.47±0.03 kg/例）。估计每年碳足迹减少量为1084.2千克二氧化碳当量。
可持续发展举措可显著减少CCLs的废物和碳排放，同时促进回收利用。本研究为推动高流量CCLs的环境可持续发展提供了一个实用框架。
