Surgical Fires Lead to Disfigurement, Death

Medical Malpractice - Surgical Fires
Patients undergoing a routine surgery may believe that they are not at risk for experiencing any injury. Unfortunately, if the surgical team does not operate with the necessary care during any surgery, the possibility of a surgical fire does exist. If a surgical fire occurs, a routine surgery may result in permanent disfigurement and even death.

The Statistics of Surgical Fires
Surgical fires are a relatively rare occurrence given that 50 million surgeries are performed in the United States each year, but the fires that do occur can be devastating. Surgical fires were previously believed to affect between 50 and 100 patients annually. However, according to a September, 2008 report by Msnbc.com, it is estimated that between 550 and 650 patients per year are burned during surgery, with 20 to 30 of those individuals suffering serious burns and others dying as a result of their injuries.

The first-ever statistics tracking this worrisome issue were released by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System. The data indicates that in Pennsylvania, one in every 87,646 operations in 2007 experienced a surgical fire. Thus, in 2007, 28 fires occurred during a surgery in the State of Pennsylvania. Based on these statistics, researchers are able to better estimate the number of incidents of surgical fires occurring nationwide. Research indicates that 65 percent of surgical fires result in injuries to the upper body or inside a patient’s airway, 25 percent result in injuries elsewhere on a patient’s body, and less than 10 percent of injuries occur inside the patient’s body.

How Surgical Fires Occur
Fires are possible during surgery because an operating room contains three elements that can combine to form a fire; heat, air, and fuel. Heat typically comes from the surgical tools used by surgeons to make incisions. Air is present due to the use of anesthesia on a patient during surgery. Fuel can come from the tiny hairs located on a patient’s head and neck, or surgical sponges. All of these elements may combine to form the conditions necessary to ignite a fire if the surgeon and anesthesiologist do not communicate effectively while conducting the surgery.

Preventing Surgical Fires
The primary step that can be taken to reduce the risk of a surgical fire is training the surgical staff at hospitals in the steps necessary to prevent a fire from occurring. Moreover, hospitals could hold fire drills to test staff preparedness. It is estimated that fewer than half of the nation’s hospitals hold drills to prevent and control fires. The American Society of Anesthesiologists now recommends regular drills as part of a comprehensive effort to prevent surgical flash fires from occurring.

An Example
For people directly affected by surgical fire, the results can be devastating. For example, an elderly patient in Maryland was injured after a cauterizing tool ignited a topical cleaner that had not been allowed to dry. The 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the patient’s face that resulted from the fire led to infections, kidney failure, and terrible pain for the patient. The patient died several years later having never fully recovered. Her estate sued the hospital and received a confidential settlement.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation.
Thank you for reading our blog. If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury or death due to a surgical fire, contact us for immediate assistance. Please note that our postings do not constitute legal advice and your comments will not be treated as confidential. If you wish to discuss your legal matter with us, please contact our office for a consultation.