Abstract

SALIM-TERREROS, Anahí; LOPEZ-CASTRUITA, Victor Manuel  and  BAUTISTA-GUZMAN, Iván. Fire in the operating room. A case report. Rev. mex. anestesiol. [online]. 2019, vol.42, n.2, pp.129-132.  Epub Mar 30, 2020. ISSN 0484-7903.

There are several reports in the literature of adverse events within the operating room, these may be of a different nature; one of them is the presence of fire in the operating room, which does not depart from our reality, since the use of supplemental oxygen promotes an environment rich in oxidant and when contacting other devices commonly used in surgery, can cause a fire. We report a case of fire in the operating room, in which elements that have been related, such as electrocautery, oxygen, hair, and surgical fields, were involved and that resulted in 2nd degree burns in 30% total body surface of the patient who underwent surgery. A literature review of the existing evidence was made, as well as a review of the ASA algorithm for the prevention and management of fire in the operating room, which is of relevance to the anesthesiologist and all professionals who make up the surgical team.

Keywords : Fire; adverse event; crisis management; risk management; patient safety; burns.