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Weighted speculum buttock burn during gynecologic surgery
George A Vilos1, Angelos G Vilos
1Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Joseph's Health Care, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. george.vilos@sjhc.london.on.ca
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 10, 2003
Summary
Perineal burns can occur from surgical instruments. A weighted speculum, if used within 30 minutes of autoclaving, can cause buttock burns due to retained heat.
Area of Science:
- Gynecological Surgery
- Patient Safety
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Electrical burns are known complications during resectoscopic surgery.
- Perineal or buttock burns from non-electrical causes are rarely reported.
- A case of thermal burns from a surgical instrument is presented.
Observation:
- A 44-year-old woman developed buttock burns after endometrial ablation.
- The burns were located where a weighted speculum was positioned.
- The weighted speculum's ball retained heat after autoclaving.
Findings:
- Experiments revealed the weighted speculum's ball remained above 45°C for 30 minutes post-autoclaving.
- This retained heat can cause thermal burns to the buttocks.
- Cooling the speculum with 1L saline rapidly reduces its temperature.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of the risk of thermal burns from heated surgical instruments.
- Allowing adequate cooling time after autoclaving or using saline rinse can prevent these injuries.
- This highlights the importance of instrument temperature monitoring in preventing surgical site complications.