Electrosurgical procedures: survey of procedural records of adverse events in the State of São Paulo

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the main generators of adverse events and the regions of greatest occurrence. The study was developed based on a survey on the website of the Court of Justice of São Paulo, in which we found 101 cases in the judgment phase (final phase legal opinion), involving accidents during electrosurgical procedures performed in the State of São Paulo, in the period of 2008 to 2018. The results allowed to identify the main generators, according to the reports in the processes, 43% related to the use of the electric scalpel, 21% with the electrosurgical plate. Regarding the location of the burns, 73% lower limbs, sacral region, calcaneus, and ankle. Considering that because they are, in most cases, avoidable situations, one should invest in permanent education for the surgical and nursing staff.