The study by Russell F. Mankes, PhD, investigates the issue of propofol wastage within the healthcare system, highlighting its environmental and cost implications. The study was conducted in a surgical center where propofol wastage was identified as a significant contributor to both environmental contamination and unnecessary healthcare costs.

Key Findings:

• Extent of Wastage: Propofol accounted for 45% of all drug waste in the surgical suite. The research demonstrated that the use of larger vials led to increased wastage.
• Environmental Impact: Propofol does not degrade naturally, accumulates in body fat, and is toxic to aquatic life, necessitating incineration for proper disposal.
• Intervention Results: The removal of larger 50 and 100 mL vials from the pharmacy and the exclusive use of 20 mL vials reduced propofol wastage dramatically from 29.2 mL/day/bin to just 2.8 mL/day/bin.

Recommendations:

• Reducing vial sizes is an effective strategy to decrease drug wastage.
• Continuous feedback to clinicians about wastage can promote more conservative usage habits.