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Doctors ignite patient during heart operation

The Local Norway
The Local Norway - [email protected]
Doctors ignite patient during heart operation
A picture from the US anaesthesia patient safety foundation. Photo: APSF

Doctors in Tromsø set fire to a patient who was undergoing a heart operation, causing her to wake up with third degree burns.

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After spraying the patient with surgical alcohol to disinfect an open would, they then began to use an electrical scalpel, which unfortunately ignited the fluid. 
 
"We are talking about a rare but very unfortunate incident,"  said Dr Rolf Busund, clinical manager at the University Hospital of Northern Norway, where the operation took place. "This event is a clear reminder that although our procedures are very good, such things still happen." 
 
He said that ignition was a known risk when using electrical scalpels in conjunction with disinfectants. 
 
"During my 25 to 26 years at the hospital, I've never heard of a similar incident. However, the literature says that the use of disinfectants with diathermy can cause ignition. Last year there were some 100 instances of this in the United States." 
 

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