Woman left with surgical glove in body after operation

A WOMAN from Zhombe in the Midlands has been living with a surgical glove stuck inside her body after a botched surgical operation last Thursday at Mpilo Central Hospital. The surgical glove was only discovered by nurses at Mbizo clinic in Kwekwe on Sunday when the woman went to change the dressing.

Litha Ndlovu, 57, from Ntingwa Village under Chief Malisa, Zhombe was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital where she was booked for an operation to remove a growth just under her right armpit.

She was discharged on Saturday but Mpilo doctors blundered as they left the surgical glove tucked in the woman leaving a finger of the glove protruding. "I went to Mbizo Clinic in Kwekwe for a routine check and dressing. That's where I was told that I've a glove hanging from where the growth was removed. Staff at the clinic referred me back to Mpilo Hospital after they pointed out that the glove could put me in danger," said Ndlovu.

She expressed disappointment with the Mpilo doctors saying they should improve on their service delivery. Her cousin, Martin Dube, had no kind words for the hospital staff. Dube accused the doctors of "gross negligence". "They seem to be always rushing when dealing with patients. What are they rushing for? I always read and heard stories of Mpilo cases of negligence but I never used to take them as true," said Dube.

"When we visit the hospital we expect to be relieved of the pain and sickness affecting us but the hospital staff end up worsening our situation. What could have happened to my sister (cousin) if the piece of the glove hadn't been left protruding? The material is plastic and it could have affected her and probably led to her death."

He said the hospital officials yesterday admitted their mistake. Dube said the doctors should have removed the surgical glove before discharging Ndlovu. "They apologised for their mistake. They said the glove was used as a plug to drain blood from the patient. And it was a mistake on their part to discharge her without removing it," he said.

Dube said the Ministry of Health and Child Care should enhance their supervision of hospitals to ensure that medical staff take their duties seriously. He said Mpilo's negligence did not only traumatise Ndlovu but was costing her money in transport and other related expenses. He said Ndlovu spent nine days in Bulawayo.

"It cost her $15 to travel from here to her rural home in Zhombe. She has travelled a lot and the trips have cost her money. Ndlovu has also lost trust in medical doctors following this incident," said Dube. Mpilo Central Hospital acting public relations officer, Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, professed ignorance over the matter.

She said the hospital will investigate the issue. "I've to look for the patient's notes and the doctor who undertook the procedure. Maybe it wasn't a mistake but a procedure that wasn't explained to the patient. I don't want to make uninformed comments.

"Let me investigate then you can get in touch with me tomorrow," she said. The hospital was in June accused of medical negligence following the death of a 23-year-old patient who died before she could undergo a minor operation to remove a growth on her nose.

Gweru Provincial Hospital in the Midlands once exhibited a high level of negligence when the hospital staff forgot a pair of surgical scissors in a woman's stomach. The pair of scissors went undetected for seven years until a doctor - acting on a hunch after scans failed to pick up the alien object - operated on her in January last year and pulled it out.

Gertrude Muzulu, 35, and her husband, Farai Chimbandi of Ascot Infill in Gweru, were at the time The Chronicle published the story in February last year, preparing to sue the Midlands referral hospital.