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Surgical fires: Still a burning issue in England and Wales

A significant number of surgical fires occur each year and can have devastating effects on patients. The National Reporting and Learning System database identified 37 reports of surgical fires in England and Wales between January 2012 and December 2018 – over 52% resulting in some degree of harm. Surgical fires remain preventable adverse events that can be avoided by adherence to effective preventative strategies and improved education. This article surveys the existing literature, addressing the fire triad and how to effectively manage and prevent a surgical fire.


Introduction
The term surgical fire rarely elicits the degree of concern that is warranted in light of their continued incidence in the operating theatre worldwide. Although they remain a rare adverse event, they continue to occur with regularity, and perioperative staff may be unaware of the risk factors as well as how to effectively prevent and manage a surgical fire. There has been a decline in awareness to the risk of surgical fire, which is likely correlated with the decline in the use of highly flammable and explosive anaesthetic gases such as cyclopropane over the last 30 years.
Surgical fires can be subdivided into two kinds: fires that occur in the operating theatre environment, most often involving electrical equipment, and fires that occur on the patient, the latter of which will be the focus of this article. The first recorded surgical fire occurring on a patient as a result of the use of anaesthetic gases goes back to 1850 when ether caught fire during facial surgery (MacDonald 1994). A search of the anaesthetic and surgical literature, especially from the United States (US), indicates that there has been a noticeable increase in interest in educating perioperative staff on how to prevent surgical fires. This is vital, as surgical fires can have devastating outcomes for patients, such as fatal or disfiguring injuries leading to an extended hospital stay, and they can be psychologically traumatic for patients and the staff involved (Bruley 2017, Choudhry et al 2017, Watson 2010. The most common sites for surgical fires to occur are in the airway, face, neck and upper chest (Bruley 2017, Daane & Toth 2005, Hart et al 2011, Smith & Roy 2011, Yardley & Donaldson 2010). In the US, a surgical fire is estimated to be responsible for the death of 1-2 patients annually (ECRI Institute 2009, Watson 2010).
Surgical fires are preventable adverse events that require three components: an oxidiser, ignition source and fuel, known as the fire triad (Apfelbaum et al 2013). Recognition, separation and management of the different components of the fire triad are therefore essential to reduce their incidence (Vogel 2018). Other contributory factors include a lack of education, poor team communication, other human factors, equipment design and the absence of evidence-based practice (Bruley 2004, Kezze et al 2018, Lampotang et al 2005. Moreover, with improvement in all of these areas, surgical fires can theoretically be eliminated. It is therefore imperative that perioperative staff are appropriately informed about the causes, contributory risk factors and how to prevent and effectively manage a surgical fire.

Incidence
It is well established that surgical fires are underreported. In some countries, this is a result of legal settlements and the absence of a standard reporting system (Sosis 2006, Yardley & Donaldson 2010. There may also be some concern about discussing the risk of surgical fires due to how it could be perceived by prospective patients and the general public. Rocos and Donaldson (2012) found from a search of the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) database that there had been 13 reported surgical fires in the National Health Service (NHS) between 2004 and 2011; this number is unlikely to reflect the true number of surgical fires.
A more recent search of the NRLS database identified 37 reports of surgical fires in England and Wales between January 2012 and December 2018. Of the 37 reported surgical fires, 18 (48%) resulted in no harm, 8 (22%) in low harm, 8 (22%) in moderate harm and 3 (8%) in severe harm, and therefore, 52% of surgical fires resulted in some degree of harm. The increase in the number of reports from the 2004-2011 period is unlikely to reflect an increase in the incidence of surgical fires but rather improved and more accurate reporting. As already noted above, the data from the NRLS are unlikely to be a true reflection of the number of surgical fires that actually occurred and so the number is likely to be higher. These figures should be alarming to those caring for patients in the perioperative setting and warrant serious consideration and action.
In the US, estimates of the incidence of surgical fires vary significantly between a high of 550-650 annually to a more recent estimate of between 200 and 240 (Bruley 2017). Between January 1994 and December 2013 there were 294 injuries and fatalities reported to the Food and Drug Administration as a result of a surgical fire; in 42% of cases resulted in severe injury or death and the fires were most frequently confined to the surgical field (Overbey et al 2015). There are also a number of case studies published from around the world detailing the causes of the surgical fire with recommendations on how to prevent similar adverse events (Barker & Polson 2001, Batra & Gupta 2008, Beesley & Taylor 2006, Gorphe et al 2014, Sibia et al 2016, Tan & Thong 2015, each one demonstrating the unique contributory factors that can lead to a surgical fire.

The fire triad
The aetiology of a surgical fire is reducible to the three components of the fire triad and can occur when they are all present. All three components are readily available in the perioperative environment with a different member of the team responsible for the fuel, ignition source and oxidiser. This highlights the valuable role that an awareness of the risk factors and effective communication play in preventing surgical fires (Yardley & Donaldson 2010). By removing just one component of the fire triad, the risk of a surgical fire can be eliminated and is therefore wholly preventable ( Figure 1).

Fuel
Potential fuel for a surgical fire include swabs, endotracheal tubes, bowel gas, dressings, patients hair, smoke evacuator hoses, bone cement, drains and patient gowns ( potentially flammable, and the higher the concentration, the higher the risk. However, this risk can be mitigated by observing the manufacturer's recommended drying time, allowing the alcohol content to evaporate and minimise the risk of it being ignited. Failing to adhere to the recommended drying time presents an increased risk of surgical fire and this is compounded by the application of the skin preparation that allow it to pool on the patient's skin and hair, or to be absorbed into the drapes or other material (Batra & Gupta 2008). Where pooling has occurred, it should be dried with a swab (which should itself be disposed of so as not to be introduced later by accident) and any material that has absorbed any solution should be removed and replaced. Using a purpose-built applicator can reduce the risk of pooling by limiting the application of excess solution and by not using a larger than necessary applicator. Nevertheless, recent research using porcine skin has shown that even when the recommended drying time was observed, even in the absence of pooling, there remains an increased risk of surgical fire compared to non-alcoholic-based skin preparation solutions (Jones et al 2017).
Drapes remain one of the most common fuels implicated in surgical fires (Smith & Roy 2011) and therefore should not be applied before the recommended drying time has been observed. It is also possible that if a patient is draped prior to the application of the skin preparation, then the alcohol vapours can collect and become trapped and then be ignited following the introduction of an ignition source (Batra & Gupta 2008). It has been suggested by some that due to the increased risk of surgical fire, alcoholbased skin preparation should be avoided where possible. However, this risk must be balanced against evidence-based practice guidance (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2019) surrounding the use of the alcohol-based skin preparation solution of chlorhexidine and its association with the lowest incidence of surgical site infections (Darouiche et al 2010). Furthermore, there is some evidence that indicates that alcohol-based skin preparation should be avoided in unshaved dense hair-bearing areas on the head and face (Day et al 2018).

Ignition source
There is a range of ignition sources that can be found in the operating theatre, including electrosurgical devices, lasers, fibre optic light sources, sparks from surgical drills and defibrillators (Abdulrasheed et al 2013, Hart et al 2011, Zahiri et al 2011. Fibre optic light sources are frequently described as emitting cold light; however, once disconnected from the endoscope during surgery, they can get hot enough to act as an ignition source when in contact with drapes or other materials (Ball 2014). Controlled experimental studies have shown that electrosurgical devices produce enough heat to ignite all alcohol-based skin preparation solutions, some requiring temperatures of 800-900 C to ignite (Batra & Gupta 2008). Electrosurgical devices such as diathermy can produce temperatures upwards of 1000 C (

Oxidiser
An oxidiser is a substance that can intensify combustion and accelerate the burning process, in the operating theatre the most common are oxygen and nitrous oxide. At sea level, the air is composed of 21% oxygen; however, in certain circumstances, the operating theatre can become an oxidiser-enriched environment, and this occurs when the oxygen level rises above 21% (Daane & Toth 2005, Kaye et al 2014. An oxidiser-enriched environment creates a situation where there is an increased risk of combustion; the higher the oxygen concentration, the more rapidly ignition occurs, the hotter the fire burns and the harder it is to extinguish (Culp et al 2013, Goldberg 2006, Kaye et al 2014. An oxidiser-enriched environment is complicit in more than 70% of surgical fires (Bruley 2017). In a recent systematic review looking at 87 otolaryngologic surgical fires, oxidising agents consisted of oxygen alone in 78% of cases, oxygen and nitrous oxide in 21% and just room air in 1% (Day et al 2018). The most notable risk was associated with the delivery of supplemental oxygen. In one retrospective survey of surgeons who performed periocular surgery, supplemental oxygen was administered in 88% of surgical fires (Connor et al 2018). Reducing FiO 2 to less than 30% may help to reduce the risk of an airway fire developing (Roy & Smith 2015). Furthermore, materials that may be fire-resistant in room air may not remain so in an oxidiser-enriched environment (Kezze et al 2018). Oxidiser-enriched environments, therefore, pose a significant surgical fire risk and every attempt should be made to prevent it from occurring.

Management
It is vital that perioperative staff possess sufficient knowledge of how to identify and manage a surgical fire should one develop; failure to do so can lead to poorer patient outcomes and can contribute to increased morbidity and mortality (Haith et al 2012). How to effectively extinguish a fire and reduce the harm caused to the patient will depend on a number of factors, primarily, the site of the fireairway or non-airway. Guidance produced by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) (Apfelbaum et al 2013) outline five steps that should constitute the management of a surgical fire: (1) recognising the early signs of fire, (2) halting the procedure, (3) making appropriate attempts to extinguish the fire, (4) following an evacuation protocol when medically appropriate and (5) delivering postfire care to the patient.
The first signs of a fire can include: smoke, flashes and/or flames and may include a strange odour, unusual sounds, heat, discolouration of drapes or the breathing circuit (Apfelbaum et al 2013, Blazquez & Thorn 2010, Jones et al 2019. The first signs of fire will be dependent on the cause and site of the fire. Identifying a fire may not always be obvious, for instance, the blue flame given off by an alcohol-based skin preparation solution will be difficult to spot when surrounded by blue drapes (Jones et al 2019). When a member of the perioperative team has identified any of these signs, it should be communicated immediately to the rest of the team; surgery should be paused until a fire has been ruled out or extinguished (Apfelbaum et al 2013, Kaye et al 2014. Once identified, the fire should be extinguished immediately and the most effective approach will depend on the site of the fire (Bruley 2004).

Non-airway fire
In a small non-airway fire, it may be sufficient to pat the fire out with a gloved hand and/or remove any burning material from the patient, including drapes, and simultaneously extinguishing with normal saline or water (Abdulrasheed et al 2013, Apfelbaum et al 2013, Bruley 2004, Haith et al, 2012, Yardley & Donaldson 2010. Priority should be given to extinguishing the fire over maintaining a sterile field. In a larger fire, it may be necessary to stop the flow of airway gases and maintain ventilation with a self-inflating bag and to use a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, which has the benefit of reducing the severity of a thermal injury (

Airway fire
There is unanimous agreement that at the first sign of an airway fire, the endotracheal or tracheostomy tube should be immediately removed and disconnected from the breathing circuit; any additional flammable or burning material should be removed and normal saline should be poured into the airway to cool it (Akhtar et al 2016, Apfelbaum et al 2013, Zahiri et al 2011. There may however be exceptions for extubating a patient during an airway fire. If the patient was a difficult intubation, and there are concerns about re-intubating them successfully, then extubation may not be indicated (Chee & Benumof 1998). In such circumstances, clinicians must therefore quickly assess the risk and benefits between extubating the patient or attempting to extinguish the fire with the patient still intubated (Akhtar et al 2016, Wolf & Sidebotham 1999. If extubation is not indicated, then the breathing circuit can be detached and the endotracheal tube can be flushed with water or normal saline. Following the successful extinguishing of the fire, ventilation should recommence, initially with room air, and the patient's airway should be re-secured where indicated. The endotracheal tube should be examined to determine if any fragments could still be in the airway, and a bronchoscopy should be performed to ascertain the extent of the inhalation injury and to identify any endotracheal tube fragments or other debris (Apfelbaum et al 2013, Day et al 2018.
Should the fire persist, despite attempts to extinguish it with a carbon dioxide extinguisher, the fire alarm should be activated, and the patient and perioperative team should be evacuated according to local policy. The doors to the operating theatre should be closed to contain the fire and the medical gas supply should be shut off (Hart et al 2011, Miles et al 2015.

Education
Prevention of surgical fires begins with educating existing perioperative staff and should be mandatory in the relevant clinical undergraduate educationoperating department practice, nursing and medical. Although many clinicians receive some form of fire safety training, it may not be sufficient for preventing and managing the unique features of a surgical fire. Education should emphasise the increased risk created by an oxidiser-enriched environment and therefore what constitutes a high-risk procedure (Bruley 2017, Kezze et al 2018. Staff should be aware that in an oxidiserenriched environment material that would not usually be considered flammable, including fire resistant material, can quickly ignite and burn (Culp et al 2013). High-risk procedures include: ear, nose and throat surgery, maxillofacial surgery, head or neck surgery, laser surgery, laparoscopic surgery and mediastinal surgery (Blazquez & Thorn 2010). A recent study by Tola et al (2018) from the US has shown that education can help improve knowledge and awareness of surgical fire safety amongst perioperative staff.

Rehearsal
Education of perioperative staff should also involve rehearsing what to do if a surgical fire occurs. This may involve simulation scenarios, which can encourage awareness and discussion about the prevention and management of a surgical fire (Corvetto et al 2011). More recently, virtual reality has been used to help prepare perioperative staff to manage a surgical fire (Dorozhkin et al 2017). Whatever approach is utilised, it is imperative that all members of the perioperative team are involved, since different members of the team are responsible for the three components of the fire triad (Apfelbaum et al 2013). Rehearsing acts as an additional means of reducing the impact of human factors that can contribute to a worse outcome, such as: slow reaction, distraction, inattentiveness, improper extinguishing techniques and complacency (ECRI Institute 2009, Watson 2010).

Preparation
It is advisable that a risk assessment tool should be used to assess the risk of a surgical fire and this is especially warranted for surgery considered high risk. This could be a standalone tool or something that can be easily incorporated into the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist at the time-out stage (Dennison 2011, Parremore 2018). The risk assessment tool should provide an indication of the risk of a surgical fire so that staff can adjust their practices and behaviour accordingly; encouraging better communication and increased vigilance. The risk factors that should be considered in any surgical fire risk tool include: surgical site above the xiphoid, an open/supplemental oxygen supply (nasal cannula or oxygen mask), presence of an ignition source (eg: electrosurgery or laser) and the use of alcohol-based skin preparation solutions (Dennison 2011, Mathias 2006, Parremore 2018. Additionally, a visible surgical fire algorithm acting as a cognitive aid could be displayed in each operating theatre to help reinforce knowledge of how to prevent and manage a fire (Jones et al 2019). The ASA have produced an algorithm that outlines fire prevention and management of airway and non-airway surgical fires, which could be easily displayed in each operating theatre (Apfelbaum et al 2013).

Conclusion
Surgical fires continue to be a risk and because of the potentially devastating effects to patients, perioperative staff must be better informed about how to prevent and effectively extinguish one. This risk is further highlighted by their continued occurrence in England and Wales, resulting in some degree of harm in the majority of cases. Surgical fires are preventable adverse events that theoretically can be eliminated with improved knowledge and preparation. Moreover, it is important that awareness is ongoing and that perioperative teams work together to mitigate the risks. Although surgical fires are rare, the potential for harm is high and therefore places an obligation on staff to reduce and ultimately eliminate their incidence altogether.