Thiruvananthapuram, 08 March (H.S.):

The Kazhakkoottam police have registered a case against a surgeon of the CSI Mission Hospital in Kazhakkoottam following allegations that pieces of cloth and surgical cotton were left inside the abdomen of a woman during a surgery, leading to severe complications.

The case was registered against surgeon Dr. Prashanth after a complaint was filed by Sheeba Pramod (47), a resident of Menamkulam in Thiruvananthapuram. Police initiated action based on a complaint she submitted to the Chief Minister and the District Medical Officer alleging medical negligence during a surgery performed at the hospital.

According to the complaint, Sheeba was admitted to the CSI Mission Hospital on December 3 last year after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Medical examinations and scanning reportedly revealed that her appendix had ruptured, and doctors advised immediate surgery. The operation was carried out the following day.

After undergoing treatment for several days, Sheeba was discharged from the hospital on December 12. However, she continued to experience persistent abdominal pain even after returning home. She revisited the same hospital multiple times for dressing of the surgical wound, but the discomfort did not subside. Over time, the wound developed signs of infection and pus formation around the stitched area.

When Sheeba approached the hospital again seeking further treatment, she was reportedly informed that the surgeon who had performed the operation was on leave. Another doctor examined her and allegedly assured her that there was nothing serious, prescribing medicines for wound healing.

As the pain continued without relief, Sheeba later sought treatment at another private hospital in the city. During the examination there, doctors noticed a surgical thread protruding from one side of the wound, raising suspicion of complications related to the earlier procedure.

Further detailed tests conducted at the hospital reportedly revealed that pieces of cloth and surgical cotton had been left inside her abdomen during the earlier surgery. Following this discovery, Sheeba was admitted again to a private hospital in Kazhakkoottam, where doctors performed another surgery on February 4.

During the procedure, the foreign materials, including cloth and cotton fragments, were successfully removed from her abdomen.

Following her complaint, the Kazhakkoottam police registered a case against the surgeon and have begun an investigation into the alleged medical negligence. Officials said further action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman