The HMFW Special Chief Secretary and Director of Medical Education visited the Osmania General Hospital on February 1, and discussed with the Superintendent and others about the deaths of patients on January 31 in the Acute Neuro Surgical Care ward allegedly due to lack of oxygen supply.
They visited the oxygen plant and verified the books. It was found that the optimal levels were maintained and daily readings of gases from January 1 to 31 were verified. They also visited the Acute Neuro Surgical Care ward in the OP block and inquired about the deaths there. The hospital administration claimed that no deaths were caused due to shortage of Oxygen on January 31.
The HoD Neurosurgery and his team claimed that the deaths were due to diffused brain injury and severe head injury, and not due to lack of oxygen supply. Deaths occurred at different timings, and the HoD Neuro Surgery gave details stating that oxygen supply was available in the ward and also in the rest of the building on January 31.
It was also noticed that on January 31, all the operation theatres functioned as usual without any problem of low pressure (in Oxygen tanks). The emergency wards and theatres beyond the Acute Neuro Surgical ward were also functioning without any low pressure issues.
The special Chief Secretary reviewed the entire process and ordered measures to be taken to further augment Oxygen supply and maintenance. He ordered boosters to be kept nearer to the emergency blocks. Bigger size Oxygen lines would be installed wherever required. Flow meters would be replaced whenever needed.
Modernization of Oxygen supply systems would be taken up, the HMFW secretary said. Oxygen plant operators and Anesthesia technicians would be kept in important places.
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