the oxygen that
escaped the mask and
the resulting flames,
fueled by vellus hair
("peach fuzz") on Ms.
Holden's face, burned
off her eyelashes and
most of her left eye-
brow. Also consider
that if the surgeon
cauterized the surgical
incision at the end of
the procedure, as Ms.
Holden's husband and
daughter claim, the
prep would have likely
dried by then.
A key aspect of
proper surgical prep-
ping involves deciding
if supplemental oxy-
gen will be needed
during the case. If it's
clinically indicated, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk
of igniting an oxygen-enriched fire, including the use of open-air deliv-
ery if the patient can maintain a safe blood oxygen saturation, deliver-
ing the minimum oxygen concentration necessary for adequate oxy-
genation, and stopping supplemental oxygen at least 1 minute before
and during use of electrosurgery, electrocautery or laser
(ecri.org/surgical_fires).
4 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7
• APPLIED BEHAVIOR Let prepping agents dry completely — including time for the vapors to dissi-
pate — before draping and using a potential ignition source.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
