Before a fire can occur, three things
must come together: an ignition or heat
source, a fuel
source (materials that burn) and an oxidizer
(gases that increase oxygen concentration and support combustion).
These three elements are commonly known as the fire
triangle. When the three components converge in the proper proportions
a fire can quickly result. The operating room has rich sources to
feed each side of the fire triangle.
The key to preventing fires involving surgical patients
is to control the various ignition
sources in the operating room, and prevent them from contacting
fuel. Most operating room fires start because the ignition source
was not used safely or properly. Unfortunately, many physicians
and perioperative staff members have not received extensive training
in electrosurgery
or fire safety. Consequently, unsafe practices frequently occur,
such as activating the electrosurgical active
electrode in the presence of a fuel source or in an oxygen-enriched
atmosphere. Sometimes these unsafe practices result in fire.
Phippen ML, Wells MP. Monitoring and Controlling
the Environment. Patient Care During Operative and Invasive
Procedures. WB Saunders Co;1999:147-154.
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