Airway fire during tracheostomy: prevention strategies for surgeons and anaesthetists.
Airway fires are an uncommon but real and devastating complication of tracheostomy. One such fire in a 31-year-old man is described. Surgical fires are discussed, and 15 reported cases of tracheostomy fire are reviewed. A tracheostomy protocol, adopted by our department and designed to avoid this life-threatening complication, is described. Surgeons and anaesthetists involved in tracheostomy must understand the fire hazard and how to avoid it.
Rogers
M L
ML
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
Nickalls
R W
RW
Brackenbury
E T
ET
Salama
F D
FD
Beattie
M G
MG
Perks
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010100:Oxygen