Operating Room Fires Anesthesiology

Oxygen served as the oxidizer in 95 of electrocautery induced or fires 84 with open delivery system.

Operating room fires anesthesiology.

Operating room fires are rare but devastating events. Most 85 electrocautery fires occurred during head neck or upper chest procedures high fire risk procedures. This simulation involved a 52 year old man presenting for excisional biopsy of a cervical lymph node to be performed under sedation. Recent literature suggests that there is poor communication and preparedness of the or staff for such events.

With the assistance of ecri institute apsf has produced an 18 minute long video prevention and management of operating room fires which was released in february 2010. The intended audience is everyone who works in the or during surgery. For the prevention and management of surgical fires. Mehta sp bhananker sm posner kl domino kb.

Despite the safety guidelines that are currently in place at most hospitals or fires still occur anywhere from 50 200 times per year. According to the anesthesia patient safety foundation hundreds of fires occur in the united states yearly 1the majority of fires occur during head and neck surgery due to the presence of oxygen and the extensive use of lasers 2surgical fires can be prevented by educating staff about risk and prevention strategies. This document updates the practice advisory for preven tion and management of operating room fires. Prevention and effective management of such fires may present difficulties even for experienced or staff.

A report by the american society of anesthesiologists task force on operating room fires adopted by the asa in 2007 and published in 2008. Apfelbaum jl caplan ra barker sj et al. Practice advisory for the prevention and management of operating room fires. A closed claims analysis.

A review of operating room fire claims found that 85 of fires occurred in the head neck or upper chest and 81 of cases occurred with monitored anesthesia care. Most electrocautery induced fires n 75 81 occurred during monitored anesthesia care. Operating room or fire can be a devastating and costly event to patients and health care providers. 4 these fires are typically attributed to increases in oxygen content at the surgical site.

An updated report by the american society of anesthesiologists task force on operating room fires. Fires and explosions in the operating room or have been described since the development of flammable volatile anesthetics.