Page 64 - 2022 Risk Basics - Anesthesiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Anesthesiology

example is the Emergency Manual Implementation

Collaborative.
23

Accidents and mishaps with anesthesia and in the OR will
continue despite any and all best efforts to prevent them.

Organized preparation and resources may contain injury to a
patient and prevent injury to later patients. Additionally, timely

investigation and documentation will be crucial to determine

cause of the injury and to develop a prevention strategy. Care
providers should not bypass the opportunity to learn from

mistakes, but an ounce of prevention, as the old saying goes, is

worth a pound of cure.

Intraoperative Burns

Fires account for many MAC claims and are more common
during surgery on the head, face, and neck. In most all cases

with burns, an electrocautery tool is being used with

supplemental oxygen supplied via a nasal canula, face mask,
or face tent.

Surgical fires are rare, but serious events. Operating room fires

occur about 600 times a year. The three components of an
24
operating room fire are: an oxidizer; an ignition source, and; a

fuel. Written and video-based guidelines on fire prevention are
available from the ASA and other organizations. Follow fire
25
prevention guidelines by: (1) controlling the use of heat and

ignition sources, including electrosurgical units, heated

23 https://emergencymanual.stanford.edu
24 https://www.aana.com/practice/clinical-practice-resources/surgical-firesb
25 https://pubs.asahq.org/anesthesiology/article/130/3/492/19230/Operating-Room-Fires

Page | 64