Hardware manufacturers are joining the effort as well. Earlier this year DOTmed News reported on Megadyne Corporation's announcement of a new line of electrodes featuring enhanced polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) insulation [https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/9467/ ]. When an electrode's insulation fails, it can peel back to expose the active device, presenting a burn hazard for the patient and the potential for ignition of ambient fuels. The enhanced PTFE insulation resists temperatures up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing insulation failure during operations.

The ArthroCare Corporation has built its entire enterprise around its patented Coblation technology, using a low-temperature plasma field to gently and precisely dissolve tissue, as opposed to traditional electrocautery devices, which burn tissue and are radio frequency-based. ArthroCare's Coblation devices provide benefits in facilitating more minimally-invasive procedures, as they also all but eliminate the risk of ignition, and therefore are becoming a tool of choice in performing head and neck surgeries.


Our research into operating room fires turned up a number of unwelcome surprises. The victims are many, but their stories, even the nature of their injuries are discouragingly consistent. If the problem were a series of diverse, one-off occurrences it would suggest that despite best efforts, professionals will always be plagued by anomalous emergencies. Instead, what the situation suggests is insufficient awareness of ongoing dangers. Also, we found that burn injuries are a problem not confined to the O/R. In addition to flame fires, scalds, chemical burns, and electrical or radiation burns caused by warming devices are occurring throughout hospitals. In one infamous case that took place at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN, a baby's bassinet caught fire, probably due to the outmoded warming unit's arcing near an oxygen delivery site. In the present movement to reform and to streamline America's health care practices there is a phalanx of activists led by anaesthesiologists, nurses, patients and patient advocates and some conscientious and forward-thinking manufacturers. Their message is clear: no greater efficiency, no reduction in costs, no amount of freeing-up resources is worth the price of ignoring mortal threats that are completely within our ability as professionals to prevent.

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