Eluru doctors leave forceps inside patient’s stomach, Vijayawada doctors remove it after 4 months!

VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking incident, doctors at the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Eluru left a two-inch artery forceps inside a patient’s stomach after performing a cesarean delivery to a woman on April 19, 2023.

However, the incident came to light on Wednesday when the X-ray and CT abdominal scanning reports of the woman went viral on social media platforms. The victim was identified as G Swapna, a native of S Kothapalli in Pedapadu mandal of Eluru district.

Taking serious note of the incident, Eluru District Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh ordered a detailed inquiry with District Coordinator of Hospital Services (DCHS) and directed him to submit his report on Wednesday night. Doctors at GGH Vijayawada performed surgery and removed a two-inch artery forceps from Swapna’s stomach.

Vijayawada GGH Doctor Prabhakar said that Swapna was admitted to the hospital on August 10, 2023 and complained of intestinal obstruction. After observing her health, the doctors suggested an X-ray and CT scan of her abdomen. The patient’s X-ray and CT scan reports identified a two-inch artery forceps in her stomach and damage to the intestine, he said.

“Almost four months ago, a cesarean delivery was performed on the woman. At that moment, the doctors might have operated on her and let a two-inch artery forceps in her stomach. Since then, she has complained of a severe stomach ache and consulted doctors in Eluru. We have successfully operated on the woman and removed the damaged intestine from her stomach,” Prabhakar said, and added that Swapna’s health condition was stable.

Meanwhile, a senior doctor at Eluru GGH said that Swapna approached the hospital on August 8, 2023 and complained of severe stomach ache. With lack of advanced equipment to perform surgery on her, she was referred to GGH Vijayawada on the same day. Disciplinary action would be taken against the hospital staff for their dereliction of duties, he said.