Life-Cycle Assessment of single-use versus reusable surgical drapes (cellulose/polyethylene mixed cotton system)

Surgical drapes made of cotton are under increasing competition with variou s disposable products and reusable draping systems (e. g., made of syntheti c fabrics like polyester). When making a choice to use one of these medical devices in practical surgery, major aspects like handling, hygienic safety and costs, but also environmental effects have to be taken into account. I n this study a mixed system for patient drapes (reusable cotton drapes comb ined with a reduced set of impermeable single-use drapes made of cellulose/ polyethylene) was compared to a system that is only based on single-use dra pes with regard to ecology [life-cycle assessment (LCA)]. The medical liter ature was reviewed to assess important medical aspects of the use of patien t drapes, resulting in the statement that there are no conclusive arguments to support a clear hygienic superiority of one of these alternatives. Base d on the conditions assumed and stated, the results of the LCA indicate tha t the mixed draping system is associated with two times more total energy c onsumption. In addition, more water is needed and more CO2 emissions are pr oduced. However, draping with the single-use product results in more clinic al waste. Regarding water pollution no system proved superior. It is diffic ult to compare and weigh various environmental aspects like the polluting c ultivation of cotton in distant countries (reusable drapes) and the higher figure of transportation necessary to deliver the single-use product within Germany. It is an important disadvantage of the mixed system that it combi nes the ecological burden of both cotton drapes and the single-use alternat ive.