Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2014 Oct;47(5):491-493. 10.5090/kjtcs.2014.47.5.491.

Electrocautery-Ignited Surgical Field Fire Caused by a High Oxygen Level during Tracheostomy

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Korea. starzone45@ynu.ac.kr

Abstract

Tracheostomy is a relatively common surgical procedure that is performed easily in an operating room or intensive care unit. Open tracheostomy is needed in patients requiring prolonged ventilation when percutaneous tracheostomy is inappropriate. Sometimes, it is difficult to achieve bleeding control in the peritracheal soft tissue, and in such cases, we usually use diathermy. However, the possibility of an electrocautery-ignited surgical field fire can be overlooked during the procedure. This case report serves as a reminder that the risk of a surgical field fire during tracheostomy is real, particularly in patients requiring high-oxygen therapy.

Keyword

Tracheostomy; Airway

MeSH Terms

Diathermy
Fires*
Hemorrhage
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Operating Rooms
Oxygen*
Tracheostomy*
Ventilation
Oxygen
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