Hyderabad hospital carries out two new operations after antibiotics fail
Hyderabad: In a last ditch attempt to save the eyesight of two of the five patients — whose eyes were severely damaged by Klebsiella bacteria-infected saline — doctors at the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital have decided to conduct two new procedures on them. But there are no guarantees the procedures could save them from blindness.
Using therapeutic keratoplasty first, doctors will replace the deteriorating cornea of each patient’s one eye, with donated corneas. The procedure has already been carried out on one of the two patients. Nookalatalli (60) from Srikakulam, underwent the surgery on Friday as a donour cornea was immediately available via a private hospital in the city.
The fresh plan comes after an antibiotic treatment completely failed to show any positive results on the two patients. It is hoped the new procedures will salvage some sight.
Dr Rajender Gupta, deputy superintendent of the hospital, said after five to six months, a corrective optical keratoplasty will be carried out on the two patients to rectify their eyesight. But there is no guarantee the patients’ eyesight will be restored.
Of the remaining three patients, doctors said that two, Arpani Bai, 75 and M. Prabhavati, aged around 60, are responding well to antibiotic treatment. But the status of another patient S. Anji Reddy, 75 remains unclear. He is currently under observation.
On June 30, a total of 13 patients, who underwent cataract surgeries at the SD Eye Hospital developed severe complications after being exposed to contaminated saline. Eight have been discharged but for five of the patients, prospects of total sight recovery remain bleak.
Doctors refuse to accept blame; warn of strike
As the five patients of SD Eye Hospital, whose eyes were hit by bacterial infection from bad saline, wait in anticipation for proper treatment a blame game has started with doctors claiming they are not to be blamed.
A senior doctor at the eye hospital said: “Our microbiology department will conduct three tests on samples taken from operation theatres in the hospital. One report already shows negative results. The bacteria has been found only in the saline bottles — there's no presence of bacteria in our operation theatres. This shows that we are not at fault.
“The pharmaceutical companies have their lobbies and there will be unscrupulous elements at play during procurement of supplies such as saline. Doctors end up getting blamed.” Another senior doctor warned of a strike.
“If action is taken against us without proof we will respond by going on a strike and we will not conduct our duties.” The blame game has now angered patients and their kin.
"Such exchanges of blame are made to ensure the real culprits stay protected. Victims are fooled until their pleas and demands get lost in the noise,” said a relative of one of the patients.
In 2010 too, a similar case occurred at the hospital in which five patients developed complications after cataract surgery. No one has been held responsible for the incident.
