Citations 1
The laser time out; Ensuring safe operation of lasers in the operating room suite
Ryan, Marthalane M., McCormick, Shari, Schaitberger, Sharli, Baldea, Barb, Hinni, Michael L.
ILSC 2013: Proceedings of the International Laser Safety Conference | October 16, 2018 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: 213-216
Airway fires in the surgical suite are catastrophic and deadly. When there is a combination of an endotracheal (ET) tube filled with oxygen and an ignition source such as a laser, the standard ET tube acts like a blowtorch in the patient’s trachea. These tubes can be ignited at oxygen levels as low as 26% [1]. Laser safety programs should incorporate measures to isolate the triad that is present in all Operating Room (OR) fires: a source of oxygen, fuel, and ignition. Although safety hazards are inherent when lasers are used in the OR, they can be significantly reduced, if not eliminated, if proper procedures are implemented and adhered to whenever a laser is utilized in the OR. This article reviews the safety hazards and the implementation of a “Laser Time Out” to allow for the safe use of lasers in the Operating Room.