Lost Cause
It's a wrap!
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2001
- Posts
- 30,949
Whoa! Whatdefuck happened here?
A woman was set on fire during a caesarean delivery at Waitakere Hospital's maternity unit at the weekend.
The fire, possibly caused by a flammable swabbing solution, left the woman, who was giving birth, with burns to the lower part of her body.
Hospital authorities and the Fire Service have launched separate investigations into how the fire started in the operating suite on Saturday morning.
The woman was last night resting in a comfortable condition in Middlemore Hospital. Her baby boy was not hurt and is with her at Middlemore.
The Waitemata District Health Board said the fire was a freak accident.
While the cause is not known, investigators believe one possibility is that an alcohol-based swabbing solution, used to sterilise parts of the body for surgery, may have been accidentally ignited.
Caroline Mackersey, general manager of communications for the Waitemata District Health Board, said the hospital had contacted the family, who did not wish to be named.
"We do extend our deepest sympathy to the mother and her family. It must have been extremely distressing. It's been extremely distressing for staff. People are pretty devastated."
She said the baby was still in the uterus when the fire started. Staff in the operating theatre, including an anaesthetist and obstetrician, are believed to have smothered the fire on the woman, who was anaesthetised with an epidural (a local anaesthetic injected into the region around the spinal cord). They performed the caesarean immediately.
Mrs Mackersey said: "What happened was outside the experience of anybody in that operating theatre and there was a very experienced anaesthetist and specialist. They were not young people."
All surgical equipment used would be tested and materials such as swabs and drapes surrounding the woman had been kept.
All staff would be interviewed and the procedures followed would be investigated. A fire forensics expert would also be called in.
Fire services said diathermy equipment, used to cut through skin and cauterise any bleeding, was a possible source of ignition.
Mrs Mackersey said the diathermy equipment had been serviced within the past month. It had been sent for testing.
A swabbing solution that was 70 per cent alcohol had been used, which was standard procedure.
The hospital was now using an iodine-based solution, which was non-flammable, while the investigation was carried out.
Ben Basevi, deputy chief fire officer for the Waitakere City Fire District, said the incident was of national significance and was very unusual.
A woman was set on fire during a caesarean delivery at Waitakere Hospital's maternity unit at the weekend.
The fire, possibly caused by a flammable swabbing solution, left the woman, who was giving birth, with burns to the lower part of her body.
Hospital authorities and the Fire Service have launched separate investigations into how the fire started in the operating suite on Saturday morning.
The woman was last night resting in a comfortable condition in Middlemore Hospital. Her baby boy was not hurt and is with her at Middlemore.
The Waitemata District Health Board said the fire was a freak accident.
While the cause is not known, investigators believe one possibility is that an alcohol-based swabbing solution, used to sterilise parts of the body for surgery, may have been accidentally ignited.
Caroline Mackersey, general manager of communications for the Waitemata District Health Board, said the hospital had contacted the family, who did not wish to be named.
"We do extend our deepest sympathy to the mother and her family. It must have been extremely distressing. It's been extremely distressing for staff. People are pretty devastated."
She said the baby was still in the uterus when the fire started. Staff in the operating theatre, including an anaesthetist and obstetrician, are believed to have smothered the fire on the woman, who was anaesthetised with an epidural (a local anaesthetic injected into the region around the spinal cord). They performed the caesarean immediately.
Mrs Mackersey said: "What happened was outside the experience of anybody in that operating theatre and there was a very experienced anaesthetist and specialist. They were not young people."
All surgical equipment used would be tested and materials such as swabs and drapes surrounding the woman had been kept.
All staff would be interviewed and the procedures followed would be investigated. A fire forensics expert would also be called in.
Fire services said diathermy equipment, used to cut through skin and cauterise any bleeding, was a possible source of ignition.
Mrs Mackersey said the diathermy equipment had been serviced within the past month. It had been sent for testing.
A swabbing solution that was 70 per cent alcohol had been used, which was standard procedure.
The hospital was now using an iodine-based solution, which was non-flammable, while the investigation was carried out.
Ben Basevi, deputy chief fire officer for the Waitakere City Fire District, said the incident was of national significance and was very unusual.
