Reducing unnecessary use of intermittent pneumatic compression in intensive care: A before-and-after pilot study with environmental perspective

The healthcare sector in Australia has committed to reducing carbon emissions associated with care delivery. Thirty percent of care delivered in the Australian hospital sector is considered low-value care. Intensive care uses chemical prophylaxis to reduce risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Mechanical prophylaxis methods, which include intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), are often used as an adjunct to chemical prophylaxis but can also be used in patients where chemical prophylaxis is contraindicated. Recent literature demonstrates, however, that there is no additional benefit to the routine use of IPC, in reducing VTE risk when used as an adjunct to chemical VTE prophylaxis. The aims of this study were to assess the effect of the implementation of an education package on the use of single-use IPC devices in the intensive care unit to determine the carbon footprint of a pair of IPC devices, and to determine change in waste production, greenhouse gas emissions, and the financial cost associated with change in IPC use. A before-and-after pilot study was undertaken in a single, level III intensive care unit. An audit was conducted to determine the appropriate use of IPC over a 3-month period before and after the delivery of an education package to guide prescription and use of IPC. Unnecessary use of IPC reduced from 33/58 (56.9%) to 3/31 (9.7%) after delivery of an education package. According to a bottom-up carbon footprinting analysis, embodied carbon of a single pair of IPC devices was 432.2 g carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This study represents a minimum annual saving of $7682.40, 14.9 Kg waste and 51.8 KgCO2e associated with reduced unnecessary use of IPC. Staff education and behaviour change reduced the number of IPC devices used. The number of IPC devices applied inappropriately also reduced, as did associated greenhouse gas emissions and financial cost.