Nagpur hospital shuts operation theatres after 4 maternal deaths in 20 days

Nagpur: Following the deaths of four pregnant women during childbirth at Nagpur's Lata Mangeshkar Hospital in October, an eight-member committee investigating the deaths concluded that three primary suspected causes likely contributed to the fatalities.

The committee submitted its report to the Deputy Director of Health Services on Thursday.

According to the media reports, four women died during childbirth between October 8 and October 30, a span of just 20 days, sources said.

According to a UNI report, based on the committee’s recommendation, the hospital has shut down its obstetrics and gynaecology operation theatres. Samples of medicines as well as other materials have been sent for testing to various agencies.

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Between January and September, no maternal deaths were recorded at this hospital in Hingna. But during October 8-30, four women, two from Hingna, one from Khapri, and one from Gadchiroli died during childbirth, the report said.

The hospital registered these deaths on the government portal and also notified the district surgeon’s office. In response, the Health Department appointed a committee headed by Assistant Director Dr Shriram Gogulwar.

The eight-member committee includes obstetric experts, the District Child Welfare Officer, medical specialists and other doctors. They visited the hospital to investigate the sudden deaths, including examining the operating theatres and other relevant areas.

The committee identified three primary suspected causes: excessive bleeding due to a stoppage of blood clotting, swelling (inflammation) in the kidneys and other organs and possible infection.

There is also suspicion that faulty or contaminated drugs may have contributed, so the committee has sent samples, both from the operating theatre (such as surgical equipment) and from the medicines, to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nagpur AMS and other laboratories.

The investigation reports are still pending.

“We do not compromise on quality of care,” said Dr Sajal Mitra, the administrator of Lata Mangeshkar Hospital and NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre.

He said some test reports from the samples sent by the inquiry committee are still awaited, and once they return, the exact causes of the maternal deaths will become clear, reports UNI.

During the period when the deaths occurred, the hospital conducted 82 deliveries, 78 of which were normal.

Following the committee’s recommendation, the hospital has suspended the use of the affected batches of medicines. The team has sent some medicine batches to the FDA for analysis.

Pregnant women who need delivery care are now being referred to other operation theatres.

Dr Mitra said careful attention is being paid to the situation.

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