Advertisement

Surgical needle’s tip left inside Sydney mum after C-section

The type of surgical needle used in the Fairfield Hospital procedure was hastily removed from use.

The type of surgical needle used in the Fairfield Hospital procedure was hastily removed from use.

A Sydney hospital has apologised after a surgical needle was left in a young mother’s uterus following a cesarean section.

Thi Nguyen, 19, had to have a second operation at Fairfield Hospital on Wednesday to remove the needle after she’d earlier that day had a baby boy.

“After the surgery, they left a needle tip inside her, and they didn’t even tell me when they commenced the second surgery,” her husband told the Nine Network on Saturday.

South Western Local Health District chief executive Amanda Larkin offered a “sincere apology” to the couple for any distress caused.

“Fairfield Hospital wishes to stress this is not a clinician error but a suspected product fault which was discovered quickly through hospital procedures and processes,” she said in a statement on Saturday.

“Staff did all that they could at the time to ensure Ms Nguyen was informed through a Vietnamese staff member about the need for the additional procedure.”

A similar incident occurred with the same type of suture and needle the following day.

As a result, the product was removed from use, and the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the manufacturer were all notified.

A safety alert has been issued across NSW.

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.