title: Third-degree burns caused by ignition of chlorhexidine: A case report and systematic review of the literature.
abstract: Ignition of chlorhexidine by an electrocautery unit is rare but can have devastating consequences for the patient and the surgeon. A case involving a 77-year-old man who underwent removal of an indwelling artificial urethral sphincter is presented. The chlorhexidine was ignited when the urologist activated the electrocautery unit, causing third-degree burns to the patient. A plastic surgeon treated the burns with surgical debridement and split-thickness skin grafting. A systematic review of the literature was performed with best practice recommendations. To the authors' knowledge, the present case is the ninth such case reported.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Ottawa;
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.affiliation: Niagara Health System, Welland, Ontario.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bengezi
keywords: Burn; Chlorhexidine; Prevention; Surgical fire