A 26-year-old woman has died and five other women remain in critical condition after developing severe complications following caesarean deliveries at the super speciality ward of New Medical College Hospital in Kota. The incident has prompted multiple inquiries and a state-level investigation.
Timeline of Events
The complications surfaced 8 to 10 hours after surgeries were conducted on Monday evening and later that night at the government hospital. The deceased, identified as Payal from Bhainsrorgarh in Chittor district, succumbed to her deteriorating health condition on Tuesday, hours after undergoing a caesarean surgery. Her baby is reported to be healthy.
Nature of Complications
Hospital authorities stated that post-operation, the health status of six women began to decline drastically. Symptoms included a significant drop in blood pressure, a fall in platelet counts, and blockage of urine due to kidney infection. All six women were shifted to the nephrology ward, while the six newborns, including that of the deceased woman, were transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for close monitoring.
Dr. Nilesh Kumar Jain, principal of New Medical College Hospital, said on Wednesday, "At least 12-13 pregnant women underwent caesarean deliveries Monday evening and late night, and six of them started deteriorating within the subsequent hours. They are showing signs of kidney infection." He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that while such complications are not uncommon after surgeries, they were severe in this case.
Investigations and Committees Formed
A death-audit committee has been formed to determine the cause of Payal's demise. Additionally, the hospital constituted a five-member medical team led by Dr. Vikas Khandeliya to oversee the treatment of the critical women. Another five-member team led by Dr. Suresh Dulara was established to investigate why six of the women suffered complications while others who underwent caesarean deliveries the same evening did not.
"There seems to be some reason for the deterioration that only affected this group out of the twelve," Dr. Jain said, expressing concern over the unexpected nature of these complications.
Current Condition of Patients
Dr. R.P. Meena, additional superintendent of the hospital, provided an update on the affected women's health: "The condition of all five women is stable and they are talking. However, until we pass the 72-96 hours mark, we cannot declare them out of danger."
Political and Administrative Response
The incident provoked chaos among family members of the patients. Local BJP MLA Sandeep Sharma visited the hospital on Wednesday to assess the situation and demand accountability from hospital authorities. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also later visited the critical patients and their families.
The state medical department on Wednesday sent a four-member team from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, to assist in treatment and investigation at Kota. The team includes Dr. Nihar Sharma from anaesthesia, Dr. Sunil Kumar Mahavar from medicine, Dr. Pawan Aggarwal from obstetrics and gynaecology, and Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma from nephrology.
