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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M AY 2 0 1 5
discussion before surgery heightens the awareness among all disci-
plines of the surgical team. Members of the team who are fully
engaged in the procedure and aware of the fire potential will observe
the surgeon's actions and intervene if necessary. They must also con-
firm that a saline-water mix is on the back table, identify locations of
nearby fire extinguishers and ensure each member knows just what
to do if a fire starts. For example: The anesthesia provider immediate-
ly stops the flow of oxygen and removes the endotracheal tube; the
surgeon shuts off the surgical energy device and pulls the drapes off
the patient; and the scrub tech grabs the saline-water mix from the
back table to douse the flames and pushes the table away from the
sterile field.
S A F E T Y
Scrub tech
>>
Ignition sources
• defibrillators
• electrosurgical units
• fiber-optic lights
• high-speed burrs
• lasers
Anesthesia
>>
Oxidizers
• gases
• open oxygen sources
(masks, nasal cannulas)
• closed oxygen sources
(endotracheal tubes, anesthesia
circuits)
Circulating RN
>>
Fuels
• body hair
• alcohol-based preps
• drapes
• dry sponges
• intestinal gases
ROLES IN THE ROOM
Managing the Fire Triangle
