POSTED: 9:54 a.m. EDT April 23, 2003
SAN JOSE, CA -- An eight-year-old boy having his tonsils removed suffered burns in his mouth, throat and lungs -- after his breathing tube caught fire.
It happened last Friday while the boy was under anesthesia at the San Jose Medical Center in California. Hospital officials are investigating and have apologized to the family.
They say fires can occur when oxygen and anesthesia gases flowing through breathing tubes mix with surgical power tools.
The boy has been released after spending more than three days on a ventilator. He still needs his tonsils removed.
Poor kid
