PPMRRG Blog

3 Anesthesia Tips for Prevention of Intra-Operative Fires

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Prevention of intra-operative fires begins with operating room fire safety education.   Operating room fire safety includes, but is not limited to, knowledge of institutional fire safety protocols and participation in institutional fire safety education.   All anesthesia providers should have fire safety education with an emphasis on the risk created by an oxidizer-enriched atmosphere.   Additionally, all members of the surgical care team should periodically (annually at a minimum) participate in operating room fire drills with the entire surgical care team.   This formal rehearsal should take place during dedicated educational time, not during patient care.

The Fire Triad

The anesthesia provider, the surgeon and the nursing staff each control and are responsible for at least one of the elements of the "fire triad" or "fire triangle."  Therefore, every member of the surgical team plays an important role in preventing intra-operative fires.   Before starting a high risk procedure, the surgical care team should agree upon a team plan and team roles for preventing and managing an intra-operative fire.   Prevention of intra-operative fires includes: 

1)  Minimizing or avoiding an oxidizer-enriched atmosphere near the surgical site;

2)  Safely managing fuels, and

3)  Safely managing ignition sources

Intra-operative fires are potentially devastating preventable complications.   Each member of the surgical care team has responsibility to minimize or eliminate the risk of intra-operative fire.   Hospitals and other health care facilities should have operating room fire safety policies and protocols to educate all members of the surgical care team about intra-operative fire prevention and management.   The anesthesia provider's safety education should focus on the risk created by an oxidizer-enriched atmosphere.