Environmental impact of computer-aided diagnosis in colonoscopy: a carbon footprint assessment of a prospective study cohort

Abstract

Background The environmental impact of computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) in colonoscopy is unknown. The potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting unnecessary polypectomies may be offset by emissions associated with CADx devices. We quantified and compared the carbon footprint of colonoscopy with and without CADx. Methods Life-cycle carbon emissions associated with endoscopic snares, polyp traps, histopathology, and CADx devices were estimated using life-cycle assessment software. The effect of CADx was estimated by the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions related to outcomes from a prospective cohort of patients who underwent colonoscopy with optical diagnosis under a leave-in-situ strategy (i. e. rectosigmoid polyps ≤5 mm predicted as non-neoplastic were not removed) with and without CADx assistance. Results We analyzed 1134 individuals (median age 67 years, 59% male) with 1716 colorectal polyps. Colonoscopy with CADx reduced the number of snares and polyp traps from 567 to 543 (difference: 24) and histopathology submissions from 1343 to 1278 (difference: 65). However, the total carbon footprint increased from 832 kg CO2e (95%CI 815 to 847) without CADx to 946 kg CO2e (95%CI 927 to 965) with CADx, corresponding to an absolute increase of 114 kg CO2e (95%CI 80 to 150) or 0.10 kg CO2e per colonoscopy.