What the study found
Breast operations done in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC, an outpatient surgery center) produced less unused surgical equipment and less waste than the same type of operations done in hospitals.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that even small operations can create significant waste of valuable resources, and they suggest that more specific surgical trays could reduce waste. They also state that the lower waste in the ASC may be another cost-saving advantage of ambulatory surgery center care compared with hospital-based surgery.
What the researchers tested
The study compared breast-conserving operations at two hospitals and one ASC in Arizona from January 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025. The researchers documented all disposable items opened, all reusable surgical equipment and instruments, and the weight of the waste bags at the end of each case.
What worked and what didn't
The surgeons used 14 of 70 instruments at one hospital and 14 of 74 at the other, compared with 14 of 50 at the ASC. The percentage of unused surgical equipment was significantly lower at the ASC than at the hospitals (P < 0.01), and the average waste weight was also significantly lower at the ASC: 7.97 lbs versus 13.8 lbs and 14.0 lbs at the two hospitals (P < 0.01). The reported cost of unused items per case was $183.78 and $252.07 at the hospitals and $52.35 at the ASC.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe patient outcomes beyond waste, and it does not provide details about why the differences occurred. The findings are limited to the study settings, time period, and breast-conserving operations included in the report.
Key points
- Breast-conserving operations in an ASC produced less waste than the same operations in hospitals.
- Unused surgical equipment was significantly lower at the ASC than at both hospitals (P < 0.01).
- Average waste weight was 7.97 lbs at the ASC versus 13.8 lbs and 14.0 lbs at the hospitals.
- The reported cost of unused items per case was lower at the ASC ($52.35) than at the hospitals ($183.78 and $252.07).
- The authors suggest more specific surgical trays could reduce waste.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Hospital breast surgery produced more waste than ASC surgery
- Authors:
- Maya Komenaka, Dhruvi Mehta, Dominique Robinson, Chiu-Hsieh Hsu, Charles A. Keane, Lisa WintonLi, John A. Davis
- Institutions:
- Case Western Reserve University, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Central Michigan University, Dignity Health
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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