Hyderabad sees another C-section death: Woman dies in Niloufer hospital due to respiratory problems

Yet another C-section death has been reported in Hyderabad. A 22-year-old woman who underwent a C-section at Niloufer Hospital died on Tuesday after developing respiratory problems.

This is the fourth woman to die in the past one week, after a C-section delivery.

The deceased woman has been identified as Rajitha, a resident of Malkajigiri, and underwent a C-section on Monday afternoon, after which, she was rushed to the Osmania General Hospital later that day, as she developed respiratory problems.

According to The Hindu, Rajitha initially went to the Sultan Bazar Maternity Hospital but was directed to go to the Niloufer Hospital, as the operation theatre at the maternity hospital was closed after maternal deaths last week.

“She was visiting OGH during pregnancy for chronic lung disease. Her heart beat reduced severely and she was shifted to OGH,” Dr. M. Ramani, Director of Medical Education told The Hindu.

She was reportedly brought to OGH in a critical condition after extreme blood loss. “She was undergoing treatment in the respiratory Intensive Care Unit but there was no improvement in her condition and she died,” doctors at OGH told Deccan Chronicle.

The relatives of the deceased staged a protest outside the hospital alleging that they were asked to buy medicines and blood from outside, as the hospital did not have any stock.

The New Indian Express reported that Rajitha was administered Oxytocin, manufactured by a particular pharmaceutical company, which was allegedly not supposed to be used.

“Even if women who gave birth suffer from respiratory problem, their health condition does not deteriorate so fast. Rajitha was doing well after surgery. Her condition worsened within an hour of giving Oxytocin to her,” sources told TNIE.

The report also suggested that Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMIDC) confirmed that drugs of the particular company were not advisable.

This death came just days after three women who underwent a Cesarean section at the Government Maternity Hospital in Hyderabad's Sultan Bazaar area died.

Two of them died on Thursday after drop in their blood pressure and heavy bleeding post-surgery, while another woman died on Saturday after she was shifted to a private hospital.

Following the death, all C-section surgeries have been put on hold at the Sultan Bazaar maternity hospital and the cases are being referred to Niloufer Hospital.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Gadwal, DK Aruna visited the Government Maternity Hospital, and said, “Despite so many maternal deaths following C -section deliveries, there is no concern about this issue by the state government. For a hospital that deals with 600 patients, there are just six doctors. They also do not have a blood bank adds to the pathetic conditions in which the hospital is working.”

State Health Minister Dr C Laxma Reddy has already ordered a probe into the deaths and said that the government would take strict action if anyone is found guilty.

Just two months ago, five women underwent C-section surgeries at the Niloufer hospital in Hyderabad died in a single week, after delivering their babies.

Following the maternity deaths, the Telangana government fired superintendent Dr C Suresh Kumar, and resident medical officer Dr K Usha Rani.

It also ordered a probe by an IAS officer into the death of the five women.