Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Publications on Environmental Sustainability in Operating Rooms

Abstract

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on environmental sustainability in operating rooms, identifying key research trends, country-author collaborations, influential publications, and thematic structures in the field. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection, which serves as both a database and an indexing platform. The dataset was obtained by searching English-language articles using the keywords “operating room,” “environmental sustainability,” and “green surgery”. A total of 162 eligible articles published between 1998 and 2025 were included. Data were analyzed using quantitative bibliometric techniques and visualized through VOSviewer software (version 1.6.19). The analysis included 162 publications, with a notable increase in research output over the last decade. The United States emerged as the most productive country, while Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques was identified as the most prolific journal. The most cited article was by Thiel et al. (2017), focused on cataract surgery and life cycle assessment, with 173 citations. Co-citation and co-authorship analyses revealed that authors such as McGain, Sherman, and Eckelman played central roles in the field. Two main thematic clusters were identified: (1) environmental impacts of surgical processes, (2) carbon footprint and life cycle assessments. The average number of citations per publication was 13.84. The findings highlight an increasing academic interest in sustainable operating room practices, with growing focus on reducing the carbon footprint, optimizing waste management, and implementing life cycle assessment methodologies. Future studies should aim to adopt a more holistic sustainability perspective, incorporating ethical, economic, and political dimensions. Interdisciplinary collaborations and policy-level engagements will be crucial for advancing green practices in surgical environments.

Keywords

• Bibliometric
• carbon footprint
• environmental sustainability
• green surgery
• operating room

References

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