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Child surgical-fire burns case involving MAK Anesthesia and oxygen management

The complaint alleges that during a routine outpatient procedure to remove a small benign eyelid lesion from a child, the anesthesiologist did not reduce and clear oxygen-rich air from the surgical field before electric cautery was used. According to the complaint, a fire broke out over the child’s face when the surgeon activated cautery. The complaint alleges that the patient suffered serious burns, underwent skin-graft surgery, continues to receive PTSD therapy, and expects additional surgeries.

System
MAK Anesthesia
Facility
Surgical setting; specific facility not identified in current summary
Providers involved
MAK Anesthesia, LLC / Anesthesiologist / Surgeon
Pattern
Outpatient eyelid procedure followed by surgical fire when oxygen-rich air was not reduced and cleared before cautery
Harm
Alleged serious facial burns, skin-graft surgery, PTSD, and expected future surgeries

Overview

This page concerns a routine outpatient eyelid procedure in a child where oxygen-rich air allegedly was not reduced and cleared from the surgical field before the surgeon activated electric cautery, causing a fire over the child’s face.

Chronology

  1. According to the complaint, a child underwent a routine outpatient procedure to remove a small benign lesion from her eyelid.
  2. The complaint alleges that the anesthesiologist failed to reduce and clear oxygen-rich air in the surgical field.
  3. According to the complaint, a fire broke out over the child’s face when the surgeon turned on electric cautery.
  4. The complaint alleges that the patient suffered serious burns, underwent skin-graft surgery, continues to receive PTSD therapy, and expects additional surgeries.

Alleged failures

  • The anesthesiologist allegedly failed to reduce and clear oxygen-rich air in the surgical field before cautery was used.
  • The surgeon and anesthesiologist allegedly failed to coordinate safely before activating electric cautery near an oxygen-rich field.
  • The resulting surgical fire allegedly caused serious facial burns, skin-graft surgery, PTSD treatment, and expected future surgeries.

Entities and tags

MAK Anesthesia, LLCAnesthesiologistSurgeonElectric cauterySurgical fieldSkin-graft surgeryPTSDSurgical fireCommunication failureOxygen management failureBurn injuryAnesthesiologyOutpatient surgeryPediatric surgery

Questions this example answers

What does the MAK Anesthesia surgical-fire burns allege?

The complaint alleges that during a routine outpatient procedure to remove a small benign eyelid lesion from a child, the anesthesiologist did not reduce and clear oxygen-rich air from the surgical field before electric cautery was used. According to the complaint, a fire broke out over the child’s face when the surgeon activated cautery. The complaint alleges that the patient suffered serious burns, underwent skin-graft surgery, continues to receive PTSD therapy, and expects additional surgeries.

Who is identified in this public case summary?

This public case summary identifies MAK Anesthesia, LLC, Anesthesiologist, and Surgeon. It also tags the source-supported entities MAK Anesthesia, LLC, Anesthesiologist, Surgeon, Electric cautery, and Surgical field.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The anesthesiologist allegedly failed to reduce and clear oxygen-rich air in the surgical field before cautery was used. The surgeon and anesthesiologist allegedly failed to coordinate safely before activating electric cautery near an oxygen-rich field. The resulting surgical fire allegedly caused serious facial burns, skin-graft surgery, PTSD treatment, and expected future surgeries.