Operating Room Fires
Of the more than 28 million surgeries performed each year in the United States, it is estimated anywhere from 50 to 200 may experience a fire in the operating room. For this reason, the American Society of Anesthesiologists assembled a task force to study the issue and make recommendations on what to do both to prevent fires in the OR and prepare for those very rare cases when they occur
As leaders in patient safety, ASA developed the following information to address the issue and help prevent future occurrences. ASA has shared this information with health care providers across the world. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free download ASA’s “Practice Advisory for the Prevention and Management of Operating Room Fires” and discuss it with your physician.
Prevention and Preparation for an OR Fire
For a fire to occur, three components – or a “fire triad” – must be present in the OR: an oxidizer, an ignition source and a fuel. Oxidizers include oxygen and nitrous oxide, ignition sources include lasers, drills and electrosurgery units, and fuels include tracheal tubes, sponges and drapes. The Practice Advisory offers several tips to help prevent these three components from coming together:
Education
Preparation
Prevention
Management
Downloadable Document (s) :
OR Fires Practice Guidelines.pdf
