Surgical fires: An ongoing intra-operative challenge

Abstract

Background: A surgical fire is a rare but life-threatening event. They are always unexpected and commonly occur in head and neck surgeries resulting in severe burns, disfigurement, and in some cases death. Injuries are not limited to patients alone as they may also involve health-care personnel in the operating theater. There is a resurgence in the awareness of this intra-operative challenge as well as an understanding of the need for a team approach to prevention. Materials and Methods: The surgical fire triangle is a useful paradigm that describes the three elements necessary for initiation of a surgical fire i.e., ignition source, fuel, and an oxidizer. This review will identify operating theatre contents capable of acting as ignition/oxidizer/fuel sources and highlight the management and prevention of surgical fires. Results: Surgical fires can be prevented by education across all professional boundaries in the operating theater. This will entail information on how the elements of the fire triangle interact, recognizing how standard operating room equipment can initiate a fire, and vigilance for the circumstances that increase the likelihood of a surgical fire. Conclusion: Promoting a culture of fire safety in the theater is not optional. Education on the prevention of surgical fires should be included in the curriculum of undergraduate medical students. There is an urgent need to stimulate debate within National burn associations in this context, leading to the formation of proposals to be incorporated into existing National burn prevention plans.