Eighteen months after a cesarean section delivery, a surgical device the diameter of a dinner plate was found within a woman’s womb, according to research conducted by the Health and Disability Commissioner of New Zealand,
An AWR (Alexis Retractor) with a maximum diameter of 17 centimeters (6 inches) was used at a 2020 birth in Auckland, New Zealand.
The AWR is a retractable cylinder-shaped device that employs a thin film to lift the edges of a surgical incision.
After enduring constant discomfort for months, the woman finally sought medical attention. A battery of tests and X-rays were performed on her, all of which came out negative. In 2021, she visited the hospital’s emergency room due to the intensity of her agony; a CT scan of her abdomen revealed the presence of the implant.
According to a report released on Monday, the Auckland District Health Board (Te Whatu Ora Auckland) was found to have violated the code of patient rights by New Zealand’s Health and Disability Commission Commissioner Morag McDowell.
The health board first blamed a twenty-something nurse present during the cesarean section for failing to provide enough knowledge and care.
Placenta previa, in which the placenta wholly or partially blocks the entrance to the uterus, is said to be the reason for the mother’s scheduled C-section.
The AWR was not counted among the surgical instruments utilized by the commission during the 2020 procedure. Due to the fact that “half of the retractor needs to be outside the patient,” the Alexis Retractor “would not be at risk of being retained,” the nurse assured the panel.
McDowell claims that the Auckland District Health Board should formally apologize to the woman and revise its policies to treat AWRs as surgical operations.
The director of processes has been informed and will determine the next course of action.
The head of operations at Te Whatu Ora Hospital in Auckland, Dr. Mike Shepherd, has apologized publicly for the mix-up.
