Fire Prevention and Safety During Surgical Procedures

Items that are on or under the patient such as egg crate mattresses, foam head rests, pillows, blankets, sheets and towels are fuel sources. Dry sponges, tape, ace bandages, stockinette, steridrapes and dressings are also very susceptible to ignition, especially from electrosurgery and laser.

In a case reported by the ECRI, a surgeon used a dry sponge to clean the electrocautery tip being used on a patient undergoing cervical cauterization. Disposable drapes were being used on the patient who was in the lithotomy position. The surgeon routinely cleaned the electrocautery tip with a dry sponge. Frequently throughout the procedure, the sponge ignited. In response, the surgeon would throw the burning sponge onto the floor and then stamp it out with his foot. In one instance, when he threw a burning sponge to the floor, it ignited the bottom edge of the vertically hanging left leg drape. Within approximately 7 seconds the fire spread up the drape. The burning drapes were pulled off the patient, but not before the patient sustained severe burns on her left leg.

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