Surgical areas are oxygen-enriched environments and especially susceptible to fires due to the use of supplemental oxygen and nitrous oxide. In this environment, materials that do not ordinarily burn in air may ignite, and those that do burn in air will burn hotter and faster.

Do surgical rooms have oxygen pumped into them?

The medical gases commonly used in operating rooms are oxygen, nitrous oxide, air, and nitrogen. Although technically not a gas, vacuum exhaust for waste anesthetic gas disposal (WAGD or scavenging) and surgical suction must also be provided and is considered an integral part of the medical gas system.

Is extra oxygen added to operating rooms?

When extra oxygen is used during surgery, the risk of surgical fire increases. ... We urge anesthesiologists to use extra oxygen during surgery cautiously and only with the understanding of the entire operating team that, with the extra oxygen, there is an increased risk of surgical fire.