Daniel E. Holloway
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Georgia case library

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. A fire broke out over the child’s face when the surgeon activated cautery. The patient suffered serious burns, underwent skin-graft surgery, continues to receive PTSD therapy, and expects additional surgeries.

System
MAK Anesthesia
Facility
Surgical setting; facility not named in the complaint
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

The complaint alleges as follows:

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

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following 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 surgeryPTSDBurn injurySurgical errorCommunication or follow-up failureAnesthesia and airwayAnesthesiologyOutpatient surgeryPediatric surgery