THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY@ Dash!
This is the sad story of the untimely death of two gynaecologists at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital recently ( Dr. Victor Nwatu and Dr.Esa Oga). Dr. Victor Nwatu is a new fellow(O&G) of the WACS ( April 2021) while Dr.Esa Oga was employed in 2017 as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at DASH.
The case was that of a woman with severe PPH for whom Dr.Victor Nwatu had earlier done uterine artery ligation for the patient. However, the bleeding persisted and Dr.Esa Oga had to perform hysterectomy (assisted by Dr. Victor Nwatu). The plan to perform hysterectomy was discussed at the morning meeting(as a case of uterine atony) but little concern was placed on the surgical presentation of Lassa fever. Eventually, the patient died. Both surgeons later took ill. Dr Victor travelled back to his family at Abuja from Lafia and was managed as a case of malaria. He eventually died on the 5th December,2021 at the age of 43 and survived by his wife and four children.This prompted a review of the corpse and the diagnosis of Lassa fever was confirmed on the 6th December,2021.
The lead surgeon;Dr.Oga was also confirmed to be Lassa positive and eventually died earlier today 14th December,,2021.Even as we strive to save lives; let’s continue to remember that the Doctors'(as well as other health workers) lives matter by ensuring and insisting in adequate protection from all work-place threats and dangers.
The index case was a pregnant woman who came to Lafia from Sokoto due to the insecurity over there. Shortly after arrival she became sick and was bleeding PV. A diagnosis of abruptio placenta was entertained and was rushed to theater to save her and her baby. An asphyxiated baby was delivered and taken to Scbu.
The woman had intra-abdominal bleeding and was taken back to theater by a second doctor for hysterectomy. She kept on bleeding even after the second surgery and was considered to have died from DIC. Baby also died of asphyxia and some bleeding.
The second doctor commenced his annual leave few days after the woman had died. The first doctor whose family were based in Abuja, started having fever considered to be malaria. It was when he was not getting betting on antimalaria and antibiotics, and started bleeding that he remembered he had operated on a patient that bled till death. Sample for Lassa was then taken but began convulsing and died before the result came out. Result showed positive Lassa.
The second doctor who was on leave was then called so he can take prophylaxis. That was when we knew he has been very sick and on admission at a private hospital in Abuja said to be owned by an infectious disease expert. The information was relayed to his family and the managing physician on the need for parenteral ribavirin which was commenced and was moved to the ICU at the National Hospital where he was till he died this afternoon.
Source: from the HVJ group
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