How Common Are Operating Room (OR) Fires?

Most people having a medical procedure do not realize that operating rooms and procedure suites are often very dangerous locations. One of the risks present is a fire. These events are not common in that they don’t occur daily. However, there are many situations each year in which patients suffer injuries or complications to their health as a result of fires in operating rooms.

If you have been in such an incident, or you suspect that you have been and the hospital or doctors will not communicate that to you, reach out to our legal team for immediate help. At Bailey & Greer PLLC, our Little Rock medical malpractice attorneys are able to answer all of the questions you have about these risks.

Are operating room fires common?

Data provided by the ECRI Institute states that between 90 and 100 surgical fires occur in the U.S. each year. When a fire like this occurs, it may not be accurately reported, and in some situations, the patient may not even know such an event took place. Yet, most of these fires are also considered preventable incidents.

These fires can occur:

• Within the patient
• On the patient
• Around the patient in the operating room

These incidents can be severe or minimal, depending on the specifics of the situation.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology provides several key factors that typically lead to these fires in the operating room. They note that when all three of these elements occur, a fire is likely to happen:

• There is an ignition source, which could include lasers, fiber optic lights, or electrosurgical units.
• There is a fuel source of some type, which could be the alcohol-based skin prep that is used or the surgical drapes on the patient.
• Some types of oxidizers are present, which could just be room air, nitrous oxide, or oxygen.

If these situations are present, there is a heightened risk of a surgical fire occurring. The key here is that all of these elements are necessary in most surgical procedures. That means that it is up to every member of that surgical center to do their part to minimize the risk of a fire occurring within the operating room.

How the risk of operating room fires can be minimized

Every situation is unique, and it is critical for operating room staff and each member of the medical team to take steps to mitigate any risks present. However, there are several core components that tend to minimize these risks. They include:

• All participants understand the fire triangle (listed above) and their role in mitigating it.
• There must be continuous communication among the entire team to minimize any risk of a mistake leading to a surgical fire.
• Proper equipment use is also key to minimizing risks.
• Not only should equipment be used according to expected best practices and manufacturer requirements, but it should also be maintained.
• Studies reported by the National Institutes of Health also note the importance of the open delivery of 100% oxygen to be avoided whenever possible to minimize the risk of fires.
• The surgeon should be the one in control of the ignition source, and with their proper training, that should minimize some or all of the risk.
• Good surgical procedures and operating room management will minimize the risk of fuel sources.

There are many times when operating room fires are fully preventable. While that is not always the case due to the unexpected, even in the most controlled environment, there are still many times when prevention is possible.

What should you do if you have been hurt in an operating room fire?

Clear disclosure should include informing you of any risks you were exposed to during the surgical procedure. If you were involved in such a situation, it is critical to take steps to gather information and file a claim. You may be entitled to a medical malpractice claim in these situations.

Keep in mind that having a trusted Little Rock medical malpractice attorney available to discuss your case is critical in many of these cases. They tend to be very complex and hard to prove, and most importantly, they also tend to be something the hospital wants to minimize or take action against. It is our goal to ensure you have comprehensive support throughout this process.

We determine if you have a case

One of the first steps our attorneys take is to understand what occurred during your procedure. This allows us to know if you were put at risk and if that fire could have been prevented. There are situations where these risks are unavoidable. However, if there is evidence to show that someone else was negligent, we will find it. We will gather records and data that help to prove this is the case.

We determine who is to blame

Once we understand what happened, we can then determine who is to blame. It could be the surgeon who failed to prevent the fire, or it may have been a member of the surgical staff. Other times, it is the hospital or a third party that is responsible.

We calculate the losses you have from this incident

If you suffered injuries from a fire in the OR, you have the right to compensation in many situations. Our attorneys will determine what your losses are, which could include:

• Medical costs related to complication treatment
• Disfigurement and reconstructive surgery costs
• Costs related to infection control due to complexities

If your family member lost their life due to a fire in the OR, we will work with you to determine the compensation owed in this case as well. Do not settle your case without the help of a trusted, experienced attorney.

Operating room fires are more common than you may know. If you are suffering from injuries from such an event, reach out to our medical malpractice attorneys in Little Rock, Arkansas, to learn more about your losses, your right to compensation, and the legal steps available to you. Call Bailey & Greer PLLC, or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation today.

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