title: [Patient associated fire in theatre: are we ready to prevent and/or manage it? Assessment of the anaesthetist's knowledge in Lorraine].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge amongst anaesthetists as regards to fire involving surgical patients in Lorraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted using a postal questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 22-item postal questionnaire was therefore sent to all anaesthetists working in Lorraine between January and March, 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-eight questionnaires were returned (response rate: 36%). Sixty-two percent of the respondents had never participated in fire safety training. Fifty percent could not recollect the location of the fire extinguisher in their surgical unit. Sixty-three percent ignored the existence of a memo written by the Afssaps summarizing how to use safely alcohol-based skin preparations in the presence of an electrosurgical unit. Sixty-five percent gave at least one incorrect response in grading the various modes of oxygen supply regarding the risk of fire. Only 48% were able to identify the surgeries which posed the greatest fire risk. In such cases, 40% of respondents were not aware that a FiO(2) should be maintained below 30%, 43% that the use of nitrous oxide was forbidden and 32% that it was necessary to respect a drying time after the application of an alcohol-based solution. Concerning the management of a fire, most of the answers were correct. Finally, 97% of the respondents wished to be better informed on this particular topic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our survey underlines a lack of knowledge amongst anaesthetists towards the risk of patient associated fire in theatre.
authors: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, l'hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, 29, avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 54035 Nancy cedex, France.
authors: P P
authors: PP
authors: Crumière
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Albaladejo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: De Saint Maurice
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Trabold
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Mc Nelis
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Boileau
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bouaziz
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry; D004598:Electrosurgery; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D061214:Patient Safety; D010820:Physicians; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D004202:Disinfectants; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen