Mlambo
succumbed to the injuries last Thursday at Victoria Chitepo Provincial
Hospital, where she was transferred to for specialist treatment.
She was laid to
rest in Chipinge last Saturday, leaving behind her three-week-old baby, now in
the care of her grieving husband.
The botched
medical operation was performed at Chipinge District Hospital a fortnight ago.
In a
heart-wrenching telephone interview this week, Mr Simangaliso Masibeke, the
grieving husband, struggled to come to terms with the sudden and perplexing
death of his wife.
Mr Masibeke
recounted the events leading to his wife’s tragic demise: “My wife underwent a
Caesarean Section at Chipinge District Hospital on March 11, and three days
later, she developed a swollen abdomen. When we returned to the hospital, they
claimed she had excess fluids in her abdomen.
“They drained
the fluids, but three days later, she experienced similar symptoms. She could
not eat. We took her to Mutare, where a different doctor examined her, and
discovered that the Caesarean Section had been botched in Chipinge.
“The doctor in
Mutare found that my wife did not have enough blood in her system to undergo
another operation. We learnt that the doctor who performed the initial
Caesarean Section had perforated the bladder and tied the uterus together with
the bladder before closing the womb. When we visited the hospital last Thursday
during lunch, we could not speak to her. Tragically, when we returned for the
evening visit, we were informed that my wife had passed away,” he said.
When contacted
for a comment, Chipinge District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Ozimmo Matekenya
said he was too busy to discuss the matter.
“I am busy. In
fact, I am attending a meeting in Mutare. You can come to Victoria Chitepo
Provincial Hospital if you want to see me,” he said before hanging.
However, a
leaked audio message, ostensibly from Dr Matekenya communicating with fellow
doctors in a Whatsapp group, acknowledged the boob by the medical practitioner
who performed the Caesarean Section.
“Good afternoon
doctors! I am just receiving a call from a doctor in Mutare. There is a patient
by the name Priscilla Mlambo who had a Caesarean Section. I think about two
weeks ago. This patient was referred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital
two days ago, with a history of abdominal distension.
“The patient
also had reduced urinal output. This patient was transferred from here
(Chipinge District Hospital).
“So, according
to the presentation made to me by the medical practitioner in Mutare, this
patient was transferred there with a HB of nine, (hemoglobin (Hb). Her level of
9 g/dL is considered low and could indicate anaemia, which is a condition where
the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to
tissues), only to do a check FBC it was eight.
“They took the
patient to theatre to do exploratory laparotomy (a surgical procedure where the
abdomen is opened to allow a surgeon to visually examine the organs and tissues
within). They were thinking that this patient was having an abscess (localised collection
of pussy, often caused by a bacterial infection, that can occur anywhere in the
body, including the skin). Pelvic abscess.
“However, upon
opening, they noted that there was no abscess at all, but the bladder was
actually leaking into the peritoneum. Pakangoedzwawo kusungwa sungwa kudii dii
(There was an effort made to tie the area).
“Post
operatively the patient collapsed and died. So the recommendation from the
obstetrician was that you guys perforating the bladder is not a problem. Let us
check whether we have perforated the bladder.
“Just closing
without repairing the bladder, that is where the crime starts. If there is
anyone who did this Caesarean Section, please we need to talk just as a
learning curve. We need to establish whether really the doctor who did the
Caesarean Section noticed that the bladder had been perforated.” Manica Post
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