Key result
Surgical fires result in patient harm in ~52% of reported cases.
Why the study?
Surgical fires continue to occur with significant patient harm despite being preventable adverse events requiring effective prevention and education.
Surgical fires remain a significant and preventable adverse event, with over half resulting in patient harm.
Persistent surgical fire risk with frequent harm warrants ongoing vigilance; leaves open optimal prevention strategies pending prospective data.
A significant number of surgical fires occur each year and can have devastating effects on patients. The National Reporting and Learning System database identified 37 reports of surgical fires in England and Wales between January 2012 and December 2018 - over 52% resulting in some degree of harm. Surgical fires remain preventable adverse events that can be avoided by adherence to effective preventative strategies and improved education. This article surveys the existing literature, addressing the fire triad and how to effectively manage and prevent a surgical fire.
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Daniel Rodger (2019) conducted a review in Surgical fires (n=37). Surgical fires was evaluated on Patient harm. A national database review identified 37 surgical fires in England and Wales between 2012 and 2018, of which over 52% resulted in some degree of patient harm.
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