I had heard about fires that break out during surgical procedures, but I thought that they were exceedingly rare. But according to a notification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), every year about 650 patients are injured by surgical fires. In some cases, the injuries are life threatening. In addition, more fires start but are put out before they reach the patient. So while the fires are not common, they are not as rare as many people think. Here are “Things Patients Should Know,” from the Empowered Patient Coalition.
- HOW FIRES HAPPEN: Three things have to be present for a fire to start. This “Fire Triangle” includes heat, a source of “fuel” (something that will burn) and oxygen.
- SURGICAL FIRES ARE PREVENTABLE: Surgical fires do not have to happen and can be avoided with proper precautions and communication by the surgical team.
- HEAD AND NECK SURGERY: Procedures in the head and neck area pose a greater risk of fire due to the potential for an oxygen-rich environment around a patient’s face from a breathing mask.
- PRE-OPERATIVE SKIN CLEANSERS: Skin “preps” often contain alcohol, which is flammable. Skin cleaners may pool in the skin folds –especially on overweight patients – so these cleansers need time to dry before surgery begins.
- DRAPING: Surgical drapes can catch fire and they can hide the “pooling” of liquid alcohol skin preps. Drapes can also trap alcohol vapors from skin preps, which can ignite if exposed to heat and oxygen.
- DEVICES USED TO CUT TISSUE: Tools such as electrocautery (tissue-cutting) units (sometimes called a Bovie), lasers, fiber-optic lights and cables can generate heat or sparks and cause a fire. These devices are also used in dental offices, so ask about safety precautions.
- FACIAL HAIR: Hair on the face may need to be covered with water soluble jelly – this is important for head and neck surgeries and for patients with beards, moustaches and thick eyebrows.
- ROOM AIR: If possible, the patient should be kept on room air and not highly concentrated oxygen. If extra oxygen is needed, it should be the lowest concentration that is safe for the patient.
- STAFF TRAINING: Ask if the staff is trained in preventing, recognizing and putting out surgical fires. What precautions do they have in place to protect patients? Will water and CO2 fire extinguishers be readily available in the OR?
The Empowered Patient Coalition is a consumer- and advocate-led effort to inform, engage, and empower the public to assume a greater role in their own medical treatment and in becoming a driving force for meaningful health care reform. You can learn more about their work here: www.EmpoweredPatientCoalition.org
If you were injured by a surgical fire, you may be able to collect compensation for your injuries. To speak with a attorney, feel free to call HensonFuerst anytime at 1-800-4-LAWMED. You can learn more about our firm at www.lawmed.com. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.