New research out of Italy shows that single-use cystoscopes can potentially improve current flexible endoscopy practices: They’re not just cost-effective, they’re also eco-friendly.

A recent study in Urology (a journal published by Elsevier ) compared the costs of single-use and reusable cystoscopes and found single-use saved $141,601.29 per year compared with their reusable counterparts. The study looked at various expenses, including initial purchase, cleaning, repair, usage, and environmental impact for both types of cystoscopes.

In 2022, researchers studied the costs of 1,186 procedures at one healthcare facility using reusable cystoscopes. From August 2023, they did the same for single-use procedures. They found that each procedure with a reusable cystoscope cost $353.39, while the cost per procedure with a single-use device was $234.05. Single-use cystoscopes saved $119.34 per procedure.

We have converted Euros to 2024 U.S. dollars for this post.

Single-use cystoscopes not only save money but also contribute to a greener planet, the researchers added. They use less water, produce less waste, and emit less CO².

Each single-use cystoscope procedure saved 15 gallons of water, reduced waste by 6 pounds, and cut CO² emissions by 33 pounds, according to the study’s authors. These savings translate to 18,798 gallons of water, 6,536 pounds of waste, and a reduction of 39,220 pounds in CO² emissions on an annual basis.

It’s important, however, to consider factors such as regional differences for a complete evaluation.