Question

CASE STUDIES 1. Read the following scenario and answer the questions that follow.

Mrs. X has been admitted to the hospital for a breast biopsy with possible mastec- tomy. She is brought to the operating room, anesthetized using general anesthe- sia, and positioned for the surgery. The assistant circulator performs the patient skin prep using 70% alcohol iodophor paint. According to hospital policy, the extent of the prep must include the area required for a mastectomy-from chin to pubis. The surgeon enters the room during the prep and after gowning and gloving begins the patient draping procedure. After incising the skin, the surgeon requests the electrosurgical hand piece to coagulate a bleeding vessel. Within several seconds, the surgical site flares and the drapes are ignited. The fire spreads to the patient's abdomen in seconds. The scrub provides saline solution to put out the fire. The drapes are then removed to expose the extent of the injury. The patient sustains second-degree burns to 40 percent of her thorax and third-degree burns to her abdomen and pelvis. The operation is halted, and the burns are treated. The patient is taken to the ICU. a. What was the probable source of ignition?

b. What was the fuel?

c. What should have been done to prevent this accident?

d. Besides the patient burns, which will require more surgery and a lengthy hospital stay, what are the consequences for halting the original procedure and delay?

CRITICAL THINKING 1.

The following quote from a lecture by Dr. B Boulanger at the University of Kentucky Medical School on safety in the operating room describes team member focus (distraction, preoccupation) as it relates to accidents in the operating room.

"The OR team should be patient focused,

. Not surgeon focused .Not work-flow focused Not break focused

. Not specialty focused Not budget focused

. Not Facebook focused!"

Add 3 more similar points based on your knowledge of safety and negligence in the operating room.

2. What are the possible effects of communication failure on a culture of safety in the operating room? Provide examples to support your ideas.

Answer 1

1) a. The probable source of ignition is electrocautary .

b. The 70% alcohol iodophor paint is the fuel .

c. The surgeon must have waited for the skin preparation to get dry .

d. The consequences for halting the original procedure and delay is cancer progression and it's spreading to other sites .

#. 3 more similar points based on your knowledge of safety and negligence in the operating room are :-

Not anesthesia focused

Not instruments focused

Not Internet focused