Fire safety in the operating room (27 September 2023)

Summary

A fire in the operating room (OR) is a relatively rare event. However, when a fire does occur the medical outcomes may be catastrophic if a patient is injured, with severe legal and economic consequences for the surgical team and facility.

Most OR fires are preventable with communication, appropriate education, and risk management. Since these preventive measures have little cost and are nearly 100 percent effective, they are prioritized in patient safety initiatives.

This topic will review causes, high-risk settings, and prevention of fires in the OR, as well as acute management of a surgical fire and the burned patient.