1 dies and 7 lose vision after cataract operation in CNSL Eye Hospital

1 dies and 7 lose vision after cataract operation in CNSL Eye Hospital

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, August 17, 2012 : One patient died and 7 lost their vision after undergoing cataract surgery at Charmakki Narayana Shetty Lions (CNSL) Eye Hospital at Kota in Udupi between August 1 and August 3, reportedly because the solution used during surgery was contaminated.

Speaking on Thursday, Ramachandra Bairy, district health officer, said that eight of the 38 people who underwent cataract surgery in CNSL Hospital were infected and two of these eight had undergone the evisceration procedure.

Narasimha Shetty (72) of Airody, one of the two patients who underwent the evisceration procedure, had cardiac problems too and died of cardiac arrest in KMC Manipal on August 2. But Dr. Bairy feels that the evisceration procedure might have played a role in his death. The other patient who underwent the evisceration procedure was Sukra (35) of Bhatkal, who was discharged.

Further, Dr. Bairy said that 11 people underwent cataract operations on August 1 at CNSL Hospital, and two of them developed infections. Of the 15 people who underwent the same procedure on August 2, three developed infection. On August 3, three of the 12 people who underwent the operation got infected.

Six patients Shivaram Jogi (60) of Giliyaru, Girija (50) of Saligrama, Panju Poojary (68) of Heroor, Sita B. Poojary (52) of Kundapura, Manjunatha Udupa (75) of Ampar, and Narasa Poojary (62) of Haluhalli are being treated and will be discharged soon. However, there will be no 100 percent recovery in their vision, said Dr. Bairy.

On August 17, Nithyananda Nayak, eye surgeon in the mobile ophthalmic unit of the District Government Hospital, will visit KMC Hospital to check the vision recovery records of these patients. Clarifying that not all people who underwent cataract operation at CNSL Hospital got infected, he said that the 8 patients who developed complications might have got infections because of contamination of the solution used in the surgical procedures.

Although the solution was tested at a laboratory in Kundapur, the reports showed negative. The Department of Health will also have the samples tested in KMC Hospital Manipal and another lab.

The patients who have lost their vision are now struggling to come to terms with reality. Shivaram Jogi (65) of Giliyaru, who had undergone cataract surgery in CNSL Hospital, and is now taking treatment in Prasad Nethralaya in Udupi, said that he had blurred vision before undergoing the cataract surgery, but now he has become completely blind in his left eye. His son Praveen Kumar said that his father is a diabetic who has cardiac problems. He visited CNSL Hospital because his glasses broke and was told that he required cataract surgery. However, a week after the surgery, Mr. Jogi developed infection, which did not subside even after two weeks. He was then admitted to KMC Hospital on August 13 and  shifted to Prasad Nethralaya in Udupi on August 14. The relatives of the other patients who lost their sight after undergoing cataract operation at CSNL Hospital also related similar stories.

M. T. Reju, deputy commissioner for Udupi, informed reporters that the solutions used during surgery will be tested on August 17 and CNSL Hospital will be thoroughly inspected. Once the inspection report and the test results come in, legal action will be taken against the guilty, he stated.

The fact that a patient had died and seven had lost their vision after undergoing cataract operation at CNSL Hospital was exposed by Kasturi Karnataka Janapara Vedike, which is now demanding a probe. Ramesh Gowda, the president of the association’s state unit, said that the district health and family welfare department and the district administration should order an investigation into the issue and take strict legal action against the guilty.