The purpose of this study is to determine whether green draping in the operating room prior to a hysteroscopy results in a decreased operating room time. Secondary aims are to determine whether there are any differences in infection rate, complication rate, fluid deficit, operating room turnover time
Climate change will affect global health, with a disproportionate effect on women. To continue advocating for the patient population, it is necessary to decrease the carbon footprint of the medical field. The healthcare industry is responsible for many carbon emissions and waste generation. In a hospital, the operating room contributes 20-30% and uses 3-6 times more energy per square foot. There are growing attempts at "green" strategies to minimize the carbon footprint of surgery. Parts of this strategy include decreasing the amount of single-use supplies. From its production, transport, use, and disposal life cycle, single-use supplies contribute to a large amount to waste. Hysteroscopies are a very common procedure with over 200,00 performed per year. hysteroscopy involves placing a camera into the uterus via the vagina and cervix. This can be performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic indications. Hysteroscopies have been classically performed in the operating room. In the operating room, there is an emphasis on maintaining the sterile field. The patient is prepped and draped, resulting in a large amount of excess drape usage. However, in-office hysteroscopies are gaining in popularity. In the office, draping is limited to the under buttock to capture the efflux. Institutions such as Newton Wellesley Hospital and Medstar Hospital systems all utilize minimal draping in the in-office setting. There is no further sterile draping. There is not an increased risk of infections from in-office hysteroscopies. Overall, the rate of infections from hysteroscopy is very low ranging from 0.06- 0.18%. A study has shown that the usage of preoperative iodine in hysteroscopic in-office procedures does not decrease the postoperative infection rate. New studies focused on a minimal drape cystoscopy have also not shown any increase in infection rate. The investigator and the team hypothesize that green draping for a hysteroscopy can decrease the operative time of a procedure without causing increased complications. This will also add to the procedure's decreased cost and carbon footprint.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
100
The green draping will include only an under-buttock. After normal hand hygiene and scrub, the green draping procedure will have the surgeons don only a single pair of sterile gloves.
The full draping will include under-buttocks, two-leg drapes, blue towels, and a top drape. After normal hand hygiene and scrub, the draping procedure will have the surgeon don a surgical gown and two sets of sterile gloves for the surgeon.
Emory Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Emory Dunwoody Clinic
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Difference in operative times
The principal investigator will begin timing the case on a stopwatch when the surgeon has finished scrubbing and reentered the operating room. The investigator will note the end time of the procedure as when the procedure has concluded, and the patient's legs are brought out of lithotomy back onto the bed.
Time frame: Baseline
Infection Rate
De-identified case report forms will be used for collection of perioperative data including total Infection rate.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks
Post Operative complication Rate
De-identified case report forms will be used for collection of Post operative data including urinary tract infection, vaginal infection, intrauterine infection, abnormal postoperative bleeding.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks
Peri operative Complication Rate
De-identified case report forms will be used for collection of perioperative data including total complication rate. The complication rate is a composite to include uterine perforation, fluid overload, hemorrhage, and air/gas embolism.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks
Number of cases of Fluid deficits
De-identified case report forms will be used for collection of data including total number of patients with fluid deficits.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks
Operative room turnover time in Full Draping
The OR turnover time will be calculated from the operating room status board as the difference between when the patient is out of the room and when the next patient is brought into the room.
Time frame: Baseline
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