The hospital admits a mistake was made when, during a follow-up surgical procedure to put a nutrition tube into the baby’s neck, a cautery device ignited a piece of gauze and sparked a fire.
This tragic story illustrates just one of the many hazards in surgical units that are associated with the use of high-frequency, electrically powered equipment, which can have a dramatic affect on patients and staff. Some of these potential hazards include interference with implanted equipment, accidental contact with a practitioner or the patient resulting in burns or electrical shock, explosions, or fires. This article will specifically focus on the potential explosion or fire risks related to electrical surgical units (ESUs). However, many of the recommended safety precautions in this article also will apply to other potential exposures.