Electrosurgical Unit Causing Alternate Burn Injury While Performing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Implantation

Background:The electrosurgical unit (ESU) is a reputable tool in the operating room. Normally, ESU is safe, but there are still some risks involved such as the likelihood of surgical fire, return electrode burns, or alternate site burns.Aim and Objectives:To share our experience of how to treat these kinds of burns through explication of a case study.Materials and Methods:A 21-year-old female patient had had a dental procedure 10 days previously, then came to our emergency department (ED) owing to fever, dizziness, nausea and dyspnea. Cardiogenic shock was noted, and a diagnosis of acute myocarditis was opined. On the spot, cardiovascular surgeons performed bedside extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). After the surgical drapes were removed, 2nd to 3rd degree burns were discovered around the perineum and bilateral medial thighs (Iodophor had been applied around the left perineum area). Next, we performed a split-thickness skin graft (STSG) for the right medial thigh. For the left thigh, the necrotic tissue was excised and primary closure of the site was performed.Results:After a nine-month follow-up, the burns were stable.Conclusion:The risk of ESU includes surgical fire, return electrode burns, and alternate site burns. Return electrode burns usually occur if the electrode becomes detached or has been improperly placed. Alternate site burns are related to stray currents exiting. In this documentation, we provide some solutions to prevent this kind of burns.