Doctors at Hyderabad’s NIMS leave forceps in patient’s abdomen

Hyderabad, Feb 9 (IANS) In a shocking incident of medical negligence, surgeons at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here, left an artery forceps in a patient's abdomen during a surgery performed three months ago.

The incident came to light on Saturday when an X-ray report revealed that a pair of forceps was embedded in the stomach of Maheshwari Chowdary.

The 33-year-old, a resident of Mangahlat area, had undergone a surgery for hernia on November 2 last year at the government-run super-speciality hospital.

But even after the surgery, she complained of severe abdominal pain and an X-ray report revealed that surgeons had accidentally left the surgery tool in her stomach.

The patient's relatives staged a protest outside the hospital and lodged a complaint at the Punjagutta police station.

The woman is now admitted for another surgery.

NIMS Director K. Manohar said a team of gastroenterologists were doing various tests to find out at what depth the artery forceps is embedded and if it has damaged any organ.

He informed that the patient was admitted on October 31 and the surgery was performed by a team of three doctors from surgical gastroenterology.

"The patient was discharged on November 12. Today (Saturday) she was admitted to the hospital after she complained of abdominal pain and the X-ray report revealed that there is an artery forceps in her abdomen," he said.

He termed the incident as "unfortunate" and the first in the last 30 years.

"We have ordered an inquiry by a three-member team and will take action after we get the final report," he said.

The inquiry team comprises medical superintendent, dean and a surgical gastroenterologist from Osmania Hospital.