J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2014 Apr;55(4):230-233. 10.3340/jkns.2014.55.4.230.

Fires and Burns Occurring in an Electrocautery after Skin Preparation with Alcohol during a Neurosurgery

• Chae SB
• Kim WK
• Yoo CJ
• Park CW

• KMID: 2191100
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2014.55.4.230

Abstract

While there are reports regarding burns occurring to patients during the surgery, there are little reports concerning the incidents of the burns related to neurosurgical operations. Moreover, in Korea, even surveys and statistics on the incidents of burns in operating rooms are not known. This report explores burns occurring to a patient in an electrocautery scenario after disinfecting the surgical site with alcohol during the preparation of a neurosurgical operation in an operating room where there is much exposure to oxygen. The authors show a case of a 33-year-old male patient who undergoing evacuation of hematoma on occipital lesion, suffered second degree burns as a result of surgical fires.

Keyword

Burns; Alcohol; Electrocautery; Neurosurgery

MeSH Terms

Adult
Burns*
Electrocoagulation*
Fires*
Hematoma
Humans
Korea
Male
Neurosurgery*
Operating Rooms
Oxygen
Skin*
Oxygen

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Brain CT shows left cerebellar epidural hematoma and linear skull fracture. A: Before operation. B: After operation.

• 

  Fig. 2 Patient suffered second-degree burns on his cheeks, forehead and about 40% of the scalp.

• 

  Fig. 3 Where between folded drape (green line), there is much remaining alcohol (light blue shaded area) which did not fully evaporated.

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