Surgical instrument gets trapped inside patient at Government Taluk Hospital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director of health services R. Ramesh on Friday ordered a detailed inquiry into a case of alleged medical negligence when the surgeons of Government Taluk Hospital, Nedumangad, left a surgical instrument inside the bowel of a patient and sewed the incision on Thursday. The patient was later brought to Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, where the surgeons operated her and removed the instrument. The patient is now recovering, a release by MCH said on Friday.

MCH officials said Laila Beevi, 45, was admitted at the Nedumangad hospital for a hysterectomy on August 15. The surgery was conducted on Thursday at 10 am. The hospital authorities said that the surgeons found one of the towel clips missing after the surgery, and conducted an X-Ray test. The test confirmed that the towel clip, often used to fix sterile cloths on all sides around the area where surgery is conducted, was trapped in the body. The counting of surgical equipment normally takes place before the incision is closed, it is learnt

“The district medical officer has given a report which is inconclusive,” Dr Ramesh said. “It said an enquiry could not be done because of the public protests there. A detailed enquiry will be conducted by the additional director of vigilance and the subject experts on Saturday.” The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has also sought reports from the DMO and the superintendents of the MCH and taluk hospital. “This is another example of medical negligence,” the commission said in a press statement.