ABSTRACT
Laser-ignited airway fires are of particular concern to the anaesthetist. Many laryngologists favour lasers because the resection of airway tumours or other obstructions can be very precise and produces minimal oedema when compared with traditional excisional techniques. CO2 lasers prove particularly useful in airway surgery as a result of the shallow depth of burn and extreme precision. However, the oxygen-rich environment and the presence of flammable materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tracheal tubes in the airway during general anaesthesia, increase the risk of fire. Severe, life-threatening burns of the larynx and trachea have occurred in such situations, and airway fires have extended up the anaesthesia circuit throughout the operating room, risking the safety of health care personnel as well.
