Safety

Hospital: Miscommunication caused a surgical fire

Hospital Safety Connection, February 5, 2007

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Waterbury (CT) Hospital has said that miscommunication between a surgeon and anesthesiologist led to a surgical fire that burned a patient's face.

The surgeon asked for oxygen to be turned off before using an electrical catheter, but the anesthesiologist didn't hear the request, hospitals officials told the Republican-American of Waterbury last week. Oxygen-enriched atmospheres can promote burning.
The hospital is in the midst of mandatory training about surgical fire prevention for all operating room teams. The surgical fire in question occurred in November 2006.

If you need help educating staff about surgical fire risks, check out HCPro's video, OR Surgical Fire Training.



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