[Fire caused by a spark of electric scalpel igniting alcoholic antiseptic containing chlorhexidine]

Fire accident is one of the most severe complications that can occur in the perioperative period. We report a case of an episode of electrosurgical burn. An 80-year-old woman was scheduled for ascending colectomy due to ascending colon carcinoma. The skin of the surgical site was sterilized with alcoholic antiseptic containing chlorhexidine before the operation. On coagulating the bleeding point of the subcutaneous fatty tissue, a spark of the electric scalpel ignited the alcoholic antiseptic. She had burn on her right thorax, lower abdomen and femoral region. Two-degree burn occupied 2% of the body surface and three-degree burn 3%. She underwent dermatoplasty 14 days later. Postoperative course was uneventful and she left the hospital on the 58th postoperative day. An alcoholic antiseptic is the most useful and has an immediate effect for preoperative disinfection of the skin according to the CDC guideline. However, electric scalpel and alcoholic use are always accompanied with the risk of ignition and sufficient caution is required.