Shocking X-ray shows how 'close mum came to losing life' after surgical scissors left inside her
A mum-of-three from Brazil has detailed how a pair of surgical scissors were painfully stuck in her abdomen for three months.
X-ray images show the 18-centimetre pair of scissors lodged inside of Erica Cristina Bannai Von Hoonholtz from a hysterectomy in January.
After suffering from ‘unbearable’ pain, it took doctors until 11 April to discover the scissors during emergency surgery at Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital in Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo.
"I arrived at the hospital completely disoriented with pain," Erica told local media.
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"They gave me medication, but nothing worked.
"It didn't stop the vomiting or the pain.
"It was unbearable. It felt like something was trying to come out from inside me."
Erica says doctors found the forgotten scissors during the procedure in April and discovered that part of her small intestine had become necrotic.
It meant that she had to undergo four operations in total to remove the scissors, including the original hysterectomy, surgery to remove the scissors, another operation to repair a hernia and drain an intestinal abscess and a fourth procedure to treat a liver abscess.
"Now it's finally sinking in how close I came to losing my life," she said.
"I'm recovering, but I'm still trying to process everything psychologically.
"Now I'm just hoping I recover, because otherwise I'll have to go back into surgery again."
Erica said representatives from the hospital owned up to what had happened after the scissors were removed and began providing medical assistance.
She said the hospital had covered treatment related to the case after she lost her health insurance and a concrete job opportunity.
The mother also said her three kids had been offered support by the hospital.
She added: "Everything related to the scissors, they've supported me with.
"Whenever I feel pain, I go there and they treat me.
"My children are also receiving psychological care."
Erica also alleged the surgeon repeatedly encouraged her, before and after the hysterectomy, to undergo a cosmetic tummy tuck costing £1,250 on a private basis.
She further claimed she was upset to see the surgeon continuing to treat patients during another hospital admission in July.
The patient filed a police report and the case is also being investigated as a criminal matter.
Court records seen by NewsX show proceedings have been underway since 28 May at the Special Civil and Criminal Court in Braganca Paulista.
Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital said it could not comment publicly on individual cases because of patient confidentiality and data protection laws.
The hospital added that it remained available to cooperate with the relevant authorities through official channels.
Local police have also launched a full-scale investigation into bodily injury that leaves the surgeon facing potential charges for criminal negligence.
The surgeon had not responded to NewsX’s requests for comment at the time of the latest local reports.
LADbible Group has contacted Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital in Braganca Paulista and the Criminal Court in Braganca Paulista for comment.
Topics: Health, Lifestyle, World News
Anish Vij