Kochi,21 Feb (HS): A major surgical procedure was successfully performed on Saturday to remove a pair of artery forceps that had remained inside a 51-year-old woman’s abdomen for nearly five years following a hysterectomy at the Government Medical College, Alappuzha.
The patient, Usha Josephkutty, a native of Punnapra, underwent surgery at a private hospital in Kochi around noon. The operation was conducted in the presence of two government doctors from Government Medical College, Kalamassery, as the case has sparked controversy and led to a police investigation. The extracted instrument — a curved artery forceps commonly used during surgical procedures — was immediately handed over to the Ambalappuzha DySP, who is leading the probe.
Usha had undergone a uterus removal surgery on May 10, 2021, at the Government Medical College, Alappuzha. Since then, she had reportedly been suffering from persistent abdominal pain. Over time, she also noticed blood in her urine. Despite repeated consultations and medical examinations, the cause of her symptoms remained unidentified.
The shocking discovery came earlier this week when, acting on the advice of a urologist in Alappuzha, she underwent an X-ray examination. The imaging revealed the presence of a metallic surgical instrument lodged in her abdomen. She subsequently approached the medical college hospital on Thursday morning to consult a doctor. Her relatives later alleged that certain doctors had advised them not to publicise the matter.
Following public outrage and the registration of a police case, the Director of Medical Education suspended Associate Professor of Gynaecology Dr. J. Shahida, who led the 2021 surgery, and nurse P.S. Dhanya. Records indicate that a nine-member medical team had participated in the hysterectomy, including a senior resident, a postgraduate trainee, three anaesthesiologists, and three nurses. Official documents also stated that all surgical instruments had been counted and verified both before and after the procedure.
The incident has triggered serious concerns about surgical protocols and accountability in government hospitals, with the investigation now focused on determining how such a lapse went undetected for years.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
