03dsGrose433

Dermatologic Surgery

2003 Abstract

0304-433 Grose

Grose DJ.
Cigarette burn after tumescent anesthesia and intravenous sedation: a case
report. Dermatol Surg. 2003 Apr;29(4):433-5. PMID: 12656830

Australian Skin Clinics, Southport, Australia. dr.grose@ozskin.com

BACKGROUND: The tumescent anesthetic technique is widely used in cosmetic
surgery. It is a safe technique and is easily administered in an outpatient
setting. Tumescent anesthesia tends to have a prolonged duration of action,
which can be a cause of patient morbidity, especially where intravenous sedation
is also used. OBJECTIVE: To report a case in which a patient fell asleep while
smoking a cigarette not long after having tumescent anesthesia for liposuction.
The cigarette fell onto an anesthetized area of the patient's thigh, resulting
in a third-degree burn. The patient was not aware of the burn because of skin
anesthesia from the tumescent anesthetic solution and residual intravenous
sedation and tiredness. There was delay in reporting the burn because it was not
painful and because there was no significant damage to the compression hosiery
worn by the patient. CONCLUSION: The importance of advising patients in
postoperative instruction information literature to avoid contact with hot
objects, including hot drinks and smoking, after local anesthesia and sedation
is emphasized.

Publication Types:
Case Reports