Headlight with fiber-optic xenon light source may cause harm to patients.

Burns in patients undergoing surgery and general anesthesia have been reported to occur from different reasons such as electrosurgical and electrocautery units, electrocardiogram, laser, and skin preparation agents [1,2]. Recently, light sources have cause fires in the operating rooms especially if allowed to contact the modern paper drapes (personal experience). Newer and higher intensity surgical headlights have the potential for causing both fires and burns. We present a case report to (1) show the potential for damage to patients if these units are not used correctly, (2) encourage physicians to learn the proper and safe use of these newer fiber-optic light source units, and (3) emphasize to surgeons and anesthesiologists the potential of patient damage from fires in the operating room.