LAHORE:A patient’s life was potentially endangered allegedly due to double negligence committed by the operating surgeon at Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC).
Official sources informed that a paediatric cardiac surgeon mistakenly left a surgical instrument inside the patient's body, but messed it up in an attempt to retrieve it in the second surgery three weeks later.
The incident prompted the hospital administration to launch an internal inquiry.The only paediatric cardiac surgeon at FIC, performed an open-heart surgery for Sinus Venosus ASD closure on a 22-yearold patient, Ch Saqlain on April 4, 2026. It is learnt the patient did not receive regular post-operative follow-up in the ICU, including routine daily X-rays. He was discharged after four days.
Three weeks later, the patient again presented with chest pain. On April 23, an X-ray revealed an artery forceps inside his chest during the initial surgery. The X-ray dept alerted the surgeon, whose initial reaction was to hide the matter. He allegedly took the patient’s records in his custody.
After the elective list had ended on the day — when most staff had already left, he then took the patient in the operation theatre without placing him on the official operation schedule.The experts say the situation worsened during corrective surgery, which was meant to be performed by an adult cardiac surgeon.
Assisted by a junior anaesthetist, he allegedly reopened the chest without essential records and imaging for a complex redo surgery. As he could not locate the forceps, the patient’s condition became critical.
The anaesthetist, sensing panic, called senior adult cardiac surgeon who successfully removed the instrument and shifted the patient to ICU.Although, it's a serious matter to leave an instrument in the patient's body, but the way the patient was treated a second time was outright blunder. ‘Not involving an adult cardiac surgeon potentially endangered the life of the patient.’
The hospital's data suggests the patient was discharged within two days of the second high-risk surgery despite standard observation of five days for open-heart procedures.It is learnt the patient's records was removed from the hospital’s online system. Besides, the patient’s attendants were discouraged from taking any action or they may lose insurance for treatment under CM's initiative.
The patient, Saqlain, confirmed the second operation to remove the instrument from his chest. While my family has medical file of first surgery, the record of second surgery, including X-rays, are with the hospital.’
However, the patient's father, Ilyas, said, ‘My foremost concern is my son’s health. His condition is now stable. I have not filed any complaint, nor do I intend to.’MS Dr Nadeem did not respond to the call nor queries via WhatsApp.
FIC Executive Director Prof Dr Hamid Saeed stated the hospital's internal inquiry had attributed the primary lapse to a staff nurse responsible for instrument counting. ‘The nurse has been suspended, and a warning of severe action under the PEEDA Act was issued to the operating surgeon.’The matter, however, was referred to the Health Secretariat for action. The patient’s family expressed satisfaction and did not wish to pursue the case.’ The MS shall submit the inquiry report to the SHC&MED today (Tuesday).
