Operating theatre bed collapses mid-surgery, woman's liver accidentally cut
A womans liver was accidentally cut and had to be cauterised because the operating theatre bed she was on collapsed a bit mid-surgery. Southern Cross Hospitals has launched an investigation into the incident in Christchurch on Tuesday, and is testing all beds in the facility. Connie John said she was pretty shocked and upset when she found out what had happened to her 59-year-old mother, who did not want to be named, during surgery to remove her gallbladder at the private hospital. READ MORE: * New surgical hospital to be built in Queenstown * Invercargill woman's hip replacement surgery cancelled for fifth time * Hysterectomy cancelled 40 mins before as hospitals fail to meet elective surgery targets * CDHB contracts more $20m of surgeries out to private clinics The procedure, which was done under general anaesthetic, was accessed through the public system, but outsourced to Southern Cross. A Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) surgeon carried out the procedure, according to a Southern Cross spokeswoman. After her mother had woken up and was recovering in a ward, John said the surgeon told her during the operation they heard a bang and the table collapsed a bit. He said he was holding the liver with a hook thing, and thats what cut it. The gallbladder is located under the liver in the upper right area of the abdomen. The surgeon had been holding the liver out of the way, John said, and the sudden movement meant the hook-device caused a cut. He said it was about a 4mm cut, and then they had to cauterise it because the liver bleeds like anything. The surgery continued and the gallbladder was removed. John said her mother was transferred to Christchurch Hospital on Wednesday. Her mother was unsure if the incident had caused any additional post-operative pain, John said, adding I was more worried about it than her. I can't believe that it happened. Im just thankful it didnt get her lung or something. Southern Cross Hospitals chief executive Terry Moore said the woman was told the bed had partially dropped during the operation as soon as possible afterwards. Southern Cross had apologised, let the woman know it was opening an immediate investigation and informed her about its complaints process and how to contact the Health and Disability Commissioner. The bed, a Steris CMAX3 surgical table, had been removed from service immediately and sent to the supplier for testing, Moore said. It was the only bed of its type in use at the Christchurch hospital. All our beds are serviced annually and this beds servicing was up to date. We have never had this issue before, but we are now testing all beds in the hospital to make sure this doesn't happen again. We would like to again apologise to [the woman] and wish her well with her recovery from the surgery. Southern Cross would notify the woman as soon as it learned the outcome of the investigation, Moore said. Questions regarding the cut to the womans liver should be referred to her doctor, a Southern Cross spokeswoman said.