Electrocautery-ignited endotracheal tube fire: case report

The risk of fire in the airway associated with laser surgery is well known, but there are reports of endotracheal tube fires ignited by electrocautery, particularly during pharyngeal surgery or tracheostomy or both. This uncommon complication has potentially devastating consequences. Surgeons undertaking these procedures should be aware of this complication and be familiar with measures to avoid them. We present a case report of an electrocautery-ignited endotracheal tube fire during an elective tracheostomy, which resulted in the patient’s death.