Medical mission complication leaves 2 yr old in comatose condition
Efforts are being pooled to help stabilize the medical condition of a 2 year-old boy hospitalized Wednesday due to complications of a Cheiloplasty surgery in one medical mission.
Performed by a team of Filipino-American doctors and nurses based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the surgery was among the several cases pre-screened and conducted at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) in Pototan, Iloilo. The mission and mission team was facilitated by the Iloilo Provincial Government (IPG) slated January 24 to February 3.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered that the boy had an arrest late Wednesday morning, purportedly within the hour that the surgery was performed. The medical team present immediately made attempts to revive the 2 year-old. A decision was later reached to transfer the patient to Iloilo Doctors Hospital (IDH) in Molo, Iloilo City with an Ilongga Pediatrician-Pulmonologist now on top of the case.
Board Member Mac Napulan told TNT yesterday that verification is underway to ascertain surrounding mis-events related to the incident. What he gathered as per conversation with Dr. Prim Parcon, hospital chief of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) was that the boy had an arrest with no further specifics immediately available. (See related story)
Asked for comment, Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, Iloilo Provincial Health Officer told TNT that foremost of the Capitol's concern is the condition of the 2 year-old. She was told of the incident by an IPH staff but added that she has yet to get further details.
The medical mission led by Melvin Barrido and wife Jane, Dr. Trabado then explained, was duly coordinated and facilitated by the provincial government. And IPH in Pototan, Iloilo as the venue and corresponding activities went through the discussions and arrangements made with the provincial health office. In fact, she continued, referrals for patients came from various Iloilo towns coursed through respective town mayors.
The medical complication on the case of the 2 year-old was most unfortunate, Dr. Trabado added while saying, "wala gid bisan sin-o nga doctor ang gusto nga may matabo nga kumplikasyon (no doctor wants any complication to happen). We are doing everything to help."
Similar assertions by Dr. Prim Parcon, IPH hospital chief when likewise reached for statement.
In a phone interview, Dr. Parcon said all went well with the US medical team in terms of the conduct of medical mission. He also refused to speak about what happened post-surgery to the 2 year-old invoking what he said was "patient-doctor confidentiality."
Such as he maintained that nothing was wrong nor amiss with the IPH as venue for the medical team.
"Ako mismo ga-indi kung indi masarangan sang ospital, (I personally object if the hospital can not manage it)," he retorted. At least 60 surgeries were performed by the medical mission team, he shared, the services, hospitalization and medicines totally free. Only the laboratory costs were charged to the patients.
Capitol sources told TNT though the gnawing concern reportedly raised by other health office workers since day one of the medical mission.
The IPH, sources pointed out, do not have equipment needed in pediatric cases. Among those pointed out as unavailable here are pedia-ventilators, the Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) necessary to monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood system of the child, equipment for electrolytes or special chemistry.
"Handling of Pediatric cases is different. Check IPH records if indeed it is a normal and regular procedure here because it is common knowledge that child-patients even like appendectomy of a 10-year old is usually referred to city hospitals," one source who requested anonymity said.
TNT tried to reach members of the US medical team however failed to get any.
The 2 year-old remains in critical condition at Iloilo Doctors Hospital and was in Glascow Coma Scale (GSC) 3, some four hours after the medical mission team managed to revive him.