When one thinks about a likely location for a fire, the last place that probably comes to mind is an operating room. The reality however is that they do, at times, occur during surgery throughout the nation, including in Pennsylvania. While surgical errors such as these are rare, when they do occur, they can cause serious injuries.

Last year, a nurse anesthetist in Pennsylvania was found negligent in causing a woman to sustain burns to her chest, larynx, lungs, trachea and face in a 2006 surgery. The cause of the fire was reportedly the nurse's failure to tell the doctor that she had administered more oxygen before he used an electro-cautery device. The device caused the surgical drapes to catch fire. The jury found her liable for $250,000.

Recognizing this is an issue, U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently held a webinar that addressed the matter. The webinar likely highlighted the three factors that need to be present for such a fire to occur. The first is an oxidizer. In the operating room, these commonly take the form of oxygen and nitrous oxide. The second element that must be present for a fire to occur is an ignition source. Common sources include drills, lasers and devices used for cauterizing. The last thing needed is something to serve as fuel such as drapes and sponges.

Vice president of accident and forensic investigations at the Pennsylvania-based ECRI Institute indicated that the oxidizer, oxygen, is one of the biggest issues. All four of the cases of patients being burned by fire he investigated in the course of the year have been due to issues with oxygen.

There are many things those who undergo surgery are likely concerned about. Most would agree that worrying about being burned by a fire that breaks out in the course of the procedure should not be one of those concerns.

Source: Scripps Howard News Service, "FDA focusing on patients catching fire in operating rooms," Aisling Swift, June 12, 2012