MY Hospital case: Operation theatre used without ‘clearance test’

A child’s death in a newly-built operation theatre of Indore’s MY hospital appears to be an alleged case of protocol negligence as the theatre didn’t undergo the mandatory trial run safety lab tests, insiders said on Sunday.

The child had died in the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital when he was accidentally administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen due to mix-up in the supply pipes in the attached operation theatre on Saturday. Another child, in a similar case, was declared brain dead on Sunday morning. MY hospital spokesperson Vijay Agarwal said the chances of his revival looked slim. The operation theatre was inaugurated on May 24.

Sources said as per the hospital guidelines, the operation theatre contractor, who is a technical specialist, is required to conduct 20-odd tests and checks and submit the report to the doctor incharge before the operation theatre can formally be used. These tests ascertain whether all the pipelines, machines and surgical apparatus are working as per the standard guidelines. However, in the above case, the sources alleged, the technical clearance and permit report was not submitted to the doctor-incharge. Sources also said that the doctor too should give a go-ahead after seeing the clearance report at his end.

MGM medical college dean MK Rathore said, “We are not sure about it (the report). Three culture tests are usually performed. An operation can be performed only when this report comes negative.” However, one technician Rajendra Choudhary, who reportedly set up the pipes at the operation theatre, alleged that he had insisted for a trial run, but the hospital authorities ignored him.

5-member panel set up to probe how nitrous oxide flowed in the oxygen pipe

Meanwhile, a five-member team of doctors has been set up by MGM medical college dean MK Rathore on Saturday evening on the issue. The team will submit its report to the state government after a thorough probe. The team is headed by Anil Baharani, head of the department of medicine, MGM medical college. The heads of the pediatrics and anaesthesia departments are also part of the team. The team will submit a detailed report in two days while a primary report is expected to arrive by Monday.

Divisional commissioner Sanjay Dubey said, “I do not possess the medical acumen to state whether any tests are performed in the first place to verify whether an operation theatre is safe to perform an operation.” However, he said, “if there were any protocols that were not fulfilled and should ideally be carried out then strict action will be taken (against those who are responsible for it).”