Sustainable Practices In Interventional Radiology Cath Labs: Balancing Environmental Impact And Cost Efficiency

Abstract

The provision of minimally invasive, image-guided care in interventional radiology (IR) catheterization laboratories (cath labs) is a critical area of patient care that positively affects patient outcomes and reduces recovery time. They also happen to be among the most expensive hospital units; the electricity and water usage is enormous, the quantities of regulated medical waste produced are tremendous, and they are a significant source of carbon footprint in the healthcare sector. These factors impose a serious financial strain on health systems and also raise important questions on long-term sustainability. The purpose of this review is to synthesize patient-level studies and hospital audit evidence to show that adoption of sustainable, green practices in cath labs not only minimizes environmental damage but also improves patient safety and operational effectiveness. The study was performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for articles in the period 2005 to 2023, with specific keywords like sustainable interventional radiology, cath lab waste management, radiation dose optimization, and green healthcare. Articles with patient outcomes, case series, or cost-effectiveness analyses were included. Findings show that interventions like energy audits, ventilation optimization, reprocessing of single-use equipment, waste segregation, and adoption of digital workflow can cut energy consumption and waste output by 10–30% and decrease costs of operation by $50–100 per case. Evidence also supports reductions in radiation exposure and procedure-related complications, confirming that measures of sustainability enhance and do not undermine clinical quality. For enduring influence, system-level policy models, institutional leadership commitment, and staff involvement are necessary to fully integrate sustainability as a standard element of cath lab practice.