Finding the biggest charge: Cost analysis to quantify electricity consumption in the operating room

Authors

• Steven Doctorman, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA
• Justin Lee, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA
• Noah Alter, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA
• Muhammad Daiem, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
• Mariam Saad, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA
• Chelsea Hamilton, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA
• César Castro, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA
• Andrea K. George, Vanderbilt University, USA
• Matthew E. Pontell, Vanderbilt University Medical Cente, USA

Document Type

Article

Department

Surgery

Abstract

Background: Device usage in operating rooms consumes significant electricity, resulting in high hospital expenditure and emissions. Prior studies have evaluated institutional policy approaches toward this problem, but there is limited analysis of individual devices' energy consumption in US operating rooms. This study's objective was to quantify the energy expenditure of equipment commonly used in the operating room, serving as a foundation for future sustainability efforts.
Methods: The 29 most commonly identified operating room devices at a tertiary academic medical center were categorized as structural (built into operating rooms) or procedural (brought in for procedures). Each device's electrical use was quantified in kilowatt-hours using standard technical ratings and estimated use times. Cost calculations using 2024 electrical prices were scaled to estimate those in average (7 operating rooms, as per literature) and large (69 operating rooms, as per literature) size hospitals.
Results: An average size hospital spends $19,207 annually on operating room equipment electricity; larger institutions spend around $189,327 annually. Stand-alone suction devices, x-ray generators of C-arm x-ray machines, and heated air devices were the highest energy consumers. Procedural devices accounted for 64% of total annual electrical costs.
Conclusions: Annual electricity costs for operating room equipment at a large hospital equal that of 5 school buildings; an average size hospital equates to a warehouse. Stand-alone suction devices at a large hospital draws the equivalent as 5,120 electrical cars; even turning them off for 1 hour per day can save $4,650.56 per year. Incremental reforms in operating room equipment utilization can substantially reduce hospital expenses and carbon footprint.

Comments

Issue and pagination are not provided by author/publisher.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Surgery

DOI

10.1016/j.surg.2026.110154

Recommended Citation

Doctorman, S., Lee, J., Alter, N., Daiem, M., Saad, M., Hamilton, C., Castro, C., George, A. K., Pontell, M. E. (2026). Finding the biggest charge: Cost analysis to quantify electricity consumption in the operating room. Surgery, 194.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_surg_surg/969