Raanan Meyer, Kacey M. Hamilton, Rebecca J. Schneyer, Gabriel Levin, Mireille D. Truong, Matthew T. Siedhoff, Kelly N. Wright
<p>The rise in carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) in the atmosphere has contributed significantly to climate change, which has been called the greatest threat to human health.<span><sup>1, 2</sup></span> The healthcare system accounts for 4.4% of all CO<sub>2</sub> emissions worldwide, more than global aviation, with the United States contributing 27% of this effect.<span><sup>3, 4</sup></span> Telemedicine has been adopted in various medical disciplines with the emergence of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic and has been shown to reduce costs.<span><sup>1, 5</sup></span> Currently, data regarding the sustainability effect of preoperative visits in gynaecology are limited. We aimed to evaluate the economic and carbon emission effects of preoperative visit types, virtual versus in-person in the office, in a minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery practice.</p><p>All women who underwent surgery with a Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at a high-volume urban referral quaternary care centre from January 2016 to May 2023 were included. The Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery treats benign gynaecologic conditions only. Virtual consultations, preoperative and postoperative visits were implemented in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have continued to the present day. Prior to March 2020, all patients were seen in person, at our outpatient clinic. After March 2020, decision on the type of preoperative visit since the pandemic was according to clinic closures due to infection surges, patients' preferences and providers' permission, though most patients were recommended to be seen virtually for their initial consultation if an in-office procedure was not required. Patients who experienced both types of visits prior to surgery, virtual and in-person, were excluded. We analysed the costs associated with driving to office visits, driving times, distances and costs, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, as well as patient characteristics, surgical characteristics and complications defined according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Driving distances, times and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were calculated based on patients' zip codes and their distance to the office (Data S1). Virtual and office visits were compared. The primary outcome was the quantification in driving costs, driving times and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions for each group.</p><p>A total of 1196 and 1751 women had preoperative virtual and office visits, respectively (Tables 1 and S1). Median age was lower in the group of virtual visits (37.0 vs. 40.0 years, <i>p</i> < 0.001). There was a higher proportion of stage IV endometriosis (16.4% vs. 7.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and minimally invasive surgery (89.7% vs 77.7%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in the virtual group compared to the office visit group. Complication proportions were similar in both groups (5.9% virtual vs. 6.3% office groups, <i>p</i> = 0.639, Table S2). Intraoperative complication proportion was significantly lower in the vi
7RM-构思、设计、获取数据、分析和解释数据、起草文章、批准最终版本;KH-获取数据、严格修改文章、批准最终版本;RS-获取数据、严格修改文章、批准最终版本;GL-构思和设计、分析和解释数据、对文章进行重要修改、批准最终版本;MT-获取数据、对文章进行重要修改、批准最终版本;MS-获取数据、对文章进行重要修改、批准最终版本;KW-构思、设计、获取数据、对文章进行重要修改、批准最终版本。MT- Ethicon、Medtronic、Heracure Medical 和 Cooper Surgical 的顾问;MS- Applied Medical 和 Intuitive Surgical 的顾问;KW- Aqua Therapeutics、Hologic、Ethicon 和 Karl Storz 的顾问;RM- Intuitive Surgical 的顾问。所有其他作者均未报告利益冲突。该研究获得了雪松西奈医疗中心机构审查委员会的批准(#00001714, 8/28/2023)。
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