KNH horrific blunder: Brain surgery performed on wrong patient

The Kenyatta National Referral Hospital is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

This time round, the country’s largest referral hospital is on the spot after a neurosurgeon at the facility performed a brain surgery on the wrong patient.

Reports indicate that a mix-up of tags occurred on two patients; one who was to undergo surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain and another who only required nursing and treatment for a swelling in his head.

Hours into the surgery, the doctors apparently failed to find the blood clot and it was then that they realised they had cut open the skull of the wrong man.

In a statement confirming the horrific blunder, the KNH CEO, Lily Koros on Thursday evening said the hospital had suspended the Neurosurgery Registrar and issued him with a show-cause letter for operating on the wrong patient.

In addition, the hospital boss said the management had also interdicted the Ward nurse, theatre receiving nurse and the anaesthetist over the mishap.

According to the hospital, the patient who was mistakenly operated on, is in a stable condition.

“The hospital deeply regrets this event and has done all it can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patient in question. We are happy to inform the public that the patient is in recovery and progressing well,” read part of the statement.

The KNH boss said they would immediately convene a Medical Advisory Committee chaired by the Director, Clinical Services to conduct a probe and make a determination on the matter.

“The hospital will advise the public on actions taken once the investigation is over,” added Koros.

Two weeks ago, KNH was in the limelight after a twin baby was stolen at the hospital in broad daylight. The three-week old baby was, however, later recovered at a house in Kawangware, Nairobi with a woman being arrested and charged with child stealing.

In January, there was national outrage after a number of women took to social narrating harrowing incidents where they were allegedly sexually abused after delivery at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The KNH management however denied the rape allegations.