We had a fire in an operating theatre this year whilst using a alcohol based prep solution and a diathermy unit. The swab caught fire and that led to the surgeons gown catching fire resulting in minor burns to the surgeon but the patient was OK. Anyone else experienced one of these incidents. I would love to know how often these incidents are occuring. The suppliers state that there has been a couple ?? But wont give details.

SBH

There have been a constant trickle of individual case reports in the surgical literature over at least 20 years or more.

If my memory serves me right, most have been associated with grossly excessive use of alcohol-based skin cleansers pool within cotton drapes. Its not exactly a common problem but a constant risk to the unwary who take insufficient care during draping and skin preparation.

MHRA have issued at least one warning, probably more over the years, and I half remember a warning letter from DoH/CMO

Search the clinical literature and you should find the information you require.

Not an isolated occurrence:

http://www.pssjournal.com/content/2/1/10

Just a bit more -

http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs...ources/?EntryId45=132981

interesting accident investigation report from an incident in NZ in 2002 for those who are interested, near the bottom of the page

regards

Martin