Preventing and Managing Operating Room Fires in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Soham Roy; Lee P Smith

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2018.08.011

Preventing and Managing Operating Room Fires in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2019 Feb;52(1):163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2018.08.011. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Authors

Soham Roy¹, Lee P Smith²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Texas at Houston McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 5.036, Houston, TX 77401, USA. Electronic address: SOHAM.ROY@UTH.TMC.EDU.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Cohen Children's Medical Center, Northwell Health System, 269-01 76th Avenue, Queens, NY 11040 USA.

PMID: 30241765
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2018.08.011

Abstract

Otolaryngologists are at high risk of surgical fire. During surgery in the head and neck region there is close proximity of 3 essential elements: an ignition source, a fuel, and an oxidizing agent. In this article, the authors highlight the scenarios where fire may occur and offer steps that surgeons can take to minimize risk for their patients. By understanding the elements of the fire triad, otolaryngologists can decrease the risk of surgical fire, through careful control of oxidizers, ignition sources, and potential fuels in the operating room.

Keywords: Airway fire; CO(2) laser; Coblation; Electrocautery; Endoscopic surgery; Fire safety; Head and neck surgery.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Fires / prevention & control*
Humans
Operating Rooms / organization & administration
Operating Rooms / standards*
Otolaryngology*
Patient Safety*
Risk Factors