The future of sustainable robotics for use in minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

With high global carbon offset and generation of waste, especially in high-income countries, the health sector paradoxically contributes to the greatest threat to worldwide human health and prosperity of this century. The growing demand for surgical care and worsening of planetary health call for responsible action by health care professionals, med tech companies, government and large health care accreditation, norms and standardization institutes. A large shift toward a circular practice with hereby reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is mandatory. Based on an analysis of the field and practical examples of instrument reuse and recycle initiatives, sustainable system developments and new sustainable training initiatives, we provide ideas on how robotic surgery, as an important surgical discipline, can be redirected to become more sustainable in the future.