1
Introduction
Burns in patients undergoing surgery and general anesthesia have been reported to occur from different reasons such as electrosurgical and electrocautery units, electrocardiogram, laser, and skin preparation agents . Recently, light sources have cause fires in the operating rooms especially if allowed to contact the modern paper drapes (personal experience). Newer and higher intensity surgical headlights have the potential for causing both fires and burns. We present a case report to (1) show the potential for damage to patients if these units are not used correctly, (2) encourage physicians to learn the proper and safe use of these newer fiber-optic light source units, and (3) emphasize to surgeons and anesthesiologists the potential of patient damage from fires in the operating room.
2
Presentation
A burn on the neck was noticed on a child at the end of the procedure. The child underwent neck surgery with general anesthesia. The burn was diagnosed as first and second degree just around the incision where surgical drapes were not covering the child’s skin ( Figs. 1 and 2 ). The area was the site of the surgery where the light source was beaming on. The BFW, model 3010, Maxenon (QED, Lexington, KY) headlight with fiber-optic xenon light source was taken out of service immediately and sent to a nonbiased third party for full testing and evaluation.
2
Presentation
A burn on the neck was noticed on a child at the end of the procedure. The child underwent neck surgery with general anesthesia. The burn was diagnosed as first and second degree just around the incision where surgical drapes were not covering the child’s skin ( Figs. 1 and 2 ). The area was the site of the surgery where the light source was beaming on. The BFW, model 3010, Maxenon (QED, Lexington, KY) headlight with fiber-optic xenon light source was taken out of service immediately and sent to a nonbiased third party for full testing and evaluation.
