[Burns caused by electrocautery during surgery].

A 19-year-old male suffering from crushed injury on the neck and anterior upper chest with suspected laceration of the trachea underwent emergent operation for surgical restoration of the trachea. First and second degrees of electric burns over the neck and upper back regions(4%) were accidentally caused by electrocautery during surgery. Short circuit due to over-wetting of the sheet and EKG leads may be responsible for this avoidable accident.