Surgery Laser Ignited Intestinal Gas

At the University of Tokyo Hospital, a woman undergoing a cervical conization procedure suffered burns to her thighs and rear after a fire broke out during the procedure when she farted. Investigators reviewed the surgery video and testimony, then ruled out coverings, drapes, alcohol-based antiseptic, doctor negligence, and equipment failure as likely causes. To test whether intestinal gas could have reached the laser field, researchers recreated the conditions with a test doll, smoke, a laser, and a bucket of lean beef filled with intestinal gases. Their tests showed that the gas could move toward the surgical field and that a laser could ignite it, causing a small explosion.

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