A woman has settled her medical negligence claim after part of a surgical blade fragment was left inside her body following a hysterectomy, resulting in an avoidable second operation and a prolonged physical and psychological recovery.
Timeline of events
In autumn 2023, Nora underwent a planned abdominal hysterectomy and related procedure at the defendant hospital. The surgery was intended to address underlying gynaecological issues and initially appeared to have proceeded without any complication.
During the operation, however, the surgical team became aware that the tip of a diathermy blade was missing from the surgical equipment. A search was carried out in theatre, including inspection of the surgical site and intra-operative imaging. Despite these efforts, the missing fragment was not located and the procedure was completed.
The following day, further imaging confirmed that the missing surgical fragment remained inside Nora’s abdomen. As a result, she was required to undergo a second surgical procedure to remove the retained foreign object. This involved reopening her abdomen and carrying out a laparotomy, which would otherwise have been unnecessary.
In the months that followed, Nora experienced a prolonged and painful recovery. She suffered ongoing abdominal pain, discomfort and reduced mobility while recovering from two major surgical procedures in quick succession. She also experienced the distress of learning that a surgical item was left inside her body.
Alongside her physical injuries, Nora developed psychological symptoms including anxiety, sleep disturbance and low mood. She was later diagnosed with adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood linked to the traumatic experience and ongoing recovery difficulties.
How we helped Nora’s medical negligence claim
After reviewing Nora’s medical records and obtaining independent expert evidence, it became clear there were failures in her surgical care. Although attempts were made to locate the missing diathermy blade during the original procedure, adequate imaging of the full abdomen and pelvis was not carried out at the time. The retained surgical fragment was only identified on imaging performed the following day.
As a result of these failings, Nora underwent an avoidable second operation, experienced additional pain and suffering, and faced a significantly extended recovery period. The incident also caused lasting psychological distress and anxiety surrounding future medical treatment.
We supported Nora in pursuing a claim against the NHS trust responsible for her care. During the claim, the trust acknowledged that the retained surgical fragment was not identified during the initial procedure and admitted that Nora required a second avoidable surgery as a result. A formal apology was also provided.
Through careful negotiation, we secured a settlement that recognised the physical and psychological impact of what Nora experienced, including provision for recommended psychological treatment and ongoing support.
A note from Ikhira Thandi
“Nora went through a very distressing experience, leading to a tremendous impact on her physical and emotional wellbeing. Having to cope with unexpected complications and a return to surgery so soon after her initial procedure understandably caused her significant anxiety and disruption to her recovery. She also lost significant trust in healthcare professionals.”
“We supported Nora throughout the medical negligence claim process and help her secure a resolution that reflects what she has been through and provides support for her ongoing recovery.”
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