Shocking Medical Blunder: Towel Left Inside Woman’s Abdomen for 3 Months After C-Section in Jodhpur

Jodhpur (The Uttam Hindu): Three months ago, a woman underwent a cesarean delivery at a government hospital in Kuchaman, where doctors accidentally left a towel inside her abdomen. Unaware of the cause, she endured severe abdominal pain for months, visiting multiple hospitals and doctors in search of relief. Despite her efforts, the foreign object went undetected until she sought help at AIIMS.

At AIIMS, medical tests revealed a 15x10 cm towel lodged in her abdomen. The doctors immediately performed surgery to remove it. The prolonged pain had affected her ability to eat, leading to a significant decrease in breast milk production. As a result, her newborn baby had to be fed formula milk.

In response to the incident, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Anil Judia has formed a committee to investigate the matter and promised action once the report is received.

Manmohan, a family member, shared that the woman endured excruciating abdominal pain for nearly three months. She sought treatment at the government hospital in Kuchaman, as well as private and public hospitals in Makrana, and even underwent a CT scan in Ajmer. The scan misidentified the towel as a lump in her abdomen, and the negligence went undetected until her family brought her to AIIMS.

Gastro Surgeon Dr. Subhash Soni explained that a CT scan at AIIMS confirmed the presence of a foreign body, leading to the decision for surgery. During the procedure, the towel was found, stuck to her intestines and causing significant damage. The woman had been on various medications for relief, which had caused additional harm to her organs.

Admitted to AIIMS on November 15, she underwent surgery on November 17, which lasted around five hours. Afterward, the towel was removed and placed in a three-kilogram plastic container. The woman remained in the hospital for about eight days and has now been discharged.