title: [Fire and explosion hazard during oxygen use in operating rooms].
abstract: In both 2006 and 2007 a large operating room fire occurred in the Netherlands. One patient died as a result of a sudden intense flash fire caused by a leaking oxygen connection. Smaller operating room fires can cause severe burn injuries and inhalation trauma in patients. An oxygen-enriched atmosphere is an important causative factor in most surgical fires. Inflammable substances and ignition sources, such as a diathermic knife or laser, may be present in the operating theatre and environs. The combination of these 3 components (fuel, oxygen and ignition) increases the risk of operation room fires. Prevention and control of this hazard depends on removal of one or more of the 3 components.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Kenniscentrum Patiëntveiligheid, Utrecht. c.j.kalkman@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kalkman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romijn
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: van Rheineck Leyssius
mesh_terms: D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017751:Safety Management; D018605:Spontaneous Combustion
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen