Date:24/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012458100100.htm

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Another goof-up at AIIMS

Staff Reporter

Artery forceps left behind in abdomen during operation

NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old married woman was re-operated at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here on Wednesday after doctors detected the presence of an artery forceps -- used for grasping and compressing an artery during surgery -- in her abdomen.

The instrument was allegedly left behind during an operation the patient underwent at the Institute in the first week of January. The patient’s condition is said to be stable.

AIIMS spokesperson Y. K. Gupta said: “The patient was detected with genitourinary tuberculosis with a non-functional left kidney. The patient underwent an eight-hour-long surgery where one of her kidneys and ureter was removed and reconstruction of her bladder was done.”

The patient was called to the Institute on Wednesday for a routine post-operation check-up and her X-ray showed the presence of an artery forceps.

“The patient was operated upon within four hours of the detection of the foreign body and all care is being taken to ensure that her health is not compromised in any manner. We have also constituted a committee to look into the incident,” added the spokesperson.