Devi Samaroo, who died at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital on Sunday after a stillbirth delivery, succumbed as a result of blood clots in her lungs, an autopsy has found.
Autopsies were performed yesterday on the bodies of Samaroo, 24, of Lot 85 Bloomfield, Corentyne, and her stillbirth baby girl, who she had delivered in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
In a statement released last night, the hospital said Samaroo died of a “massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism,” and explained that she had blood clots in both lungs. It also confirmed that the infant was found to have died of a congenital malformation, known as Ventral Septal Defect, which it explained is locally known as a hole in the heart, and is the second most common congenital heart defect, with a prevalence of 4 per 1000 births.
“Pregnancy and the postpartum period are well-established risk factors for pulmonary embolism which occurs in approximately 1 in 1600 pregnancies,” the hospital noted, while in the United States pulmonary embolism is one of the major causes of maternal death and that about 10% of patients with acute pulmonary embolism die suddenly.
In expressing its condolences to the family of the deceased, the hospital said it remained open to any questions the family may have and also welcomed any further investigation that the Ministry of Health might want to pursue. Towards this end it said the office of the Regional Health Officer and the hospital would provide full cooperation to the ministry should it decide on further investigation.
Samaroo’s family did have questions. Although it is customary for at least one relative to be present during an autopsy, Samaroo’s relatives yesterday said they were locked out of the room where the examinations were done. They noted that the family had been invited to return to the hospital on Monday for the autopsies. “We were all in the compound but they kept telling the security to lock us out the room. It had about four doctors but none of us, not even one, was allowed in,” a close relative of Samaroo’s husband, Sunil Partab, told Stabroek News yesterday.
The pregnant Samaroo was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital on Friday to deliver her second baby girl. However, on Saturday morning her relatives were told that she had a stillbirth after which the woman was moved from the hospital’s labour room to the ward. On Sunday, Partab, 26, and relatives were informed that the young woman had died, leaving the family in a state of confusion.
While Partab had spoken to this newspaper on Sunday, yesterday he related that he was no longer in a state of mind to be interviewed and he asked the close relative to speak with this publication instead.
The relative said that the family had a number of questions for the doctors and those in charge of the hospital who were present but they were unable to provide clear answers. “We kept asking them if they knew something was wrong why they didn’t transfer her or tell us so we can see what else to do but they are saying they don’t know…,” the relative said. “…If they had called us we would have at least tried to take her out and drive go down to town and meet,” the relative added yesterday.
The family was also suspicious of claims by the officials that they were unaware that Samaroo had been bleeding as the relative insisted that “when we go we find blood all over from the girl and them saying they don’t know nothing about the bleeding.”
He said officials also claimed that they did not know who was the doctor who treated Samaroo.
Partab on Sunday told Stabroek News that a doctor whom he spoke with told him that his wife had died due to haemorrhaging.
Although the family considered the idea of having a second autopsy carried out on both mother and baby, the relative noted yesterday that they cannot afford to do so. As a result, they are calling for the government to launch an independent investigation “so that they can see what is wrong and done it once and for all for everyone because too many babies and mothers are dying there!”
In February, Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo, 31, succumbed after being transferred from the New Amsterdam hospital where she had a stillbirth delivery. Following a probe, Health minister Dr Frank Anthony announced the next month that a doctor and two nurses had been suspended from the hospital after the investigation found them to be negligent.
Last month, health authorities launched a probe into the death of a 22-year-old expectant mother, Jacinth Seleen Muhammad Osborne, who died at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after undergoing a C-section to deliver her first child.
The Health Ministry that that during the procedure she went into cardiac arrest and efforts to resuscitate her failed.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armogan and Regional Health Officer Dr. Vishalya Sharma along with the doctor-in-charge of the hospital’s maternity ward visited the family yesterday afternoon.
Armogan related that the family had questions and asked that every corner be investigated, while noting, that the relatives were extremely cordial.
Questioned as to why a relative was not allowed to view the autopsies, Armogan said that this was also an issue raised by the relatives and he would have to make checks to verify whether a new policy was instituted by the hospital. “That’s kinda strange to me. I don’t know but I got to find out from Dr. Bob [New Amsterdam Hospital’s CEO] and the people of the hospital why they were not allowed,” he stated.
Additionally, he pointed out, that all maternal deaths are investigated by the office of the Chief Medical Officer, while noting, that the investigation is still ongoing.
Asked about the numerous reports of maternal deaths at the hospital, Armogan said it was sad and “moves people to a great extent” as mothers expect to come out alive and well with their babies.
