Woman died of rare problem: Poonam

Amaravati: Refusing the news of shortage of beds caused death of a nursing mother at Government Hospital in Vijayawada, Poonam Malakondaiah, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health Department, said that it was unfortunate, sad and natural death.

She explained that the death was happened due to Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE). The patient K Swathi, reportedly gave birth to a baby on Monday and it was natural delivery.

Dr Aruna Kumari, Director of Health said that the AFE resulted in cardiorespiratory (heart and lung) collapse and massive bleeding inside the body.
She further explained that the AFE was a rare childbirth emergency problem in which amniotic fluid, enters the blood stream of the mother to trigger a serious reaction.

Poonam Malakondaiah explained that she got reports after enquiry and there was no fault on the doctor or other claims raised by protesters at the hospital. She explained that at the time of AFE, the patient suddenly fell from the bed in the hospital and it was wrongly reported in the media.

Aruna Kumari said that this would happen to one in two lakh pregnant women world-wide and a rare occasion. It could happen to anybody and no doctor could predict it. She further explained that, even though the doctors realise that it was AFE, it would be very difficult to save mother and it was a clinical problem.

She explained that the patient was alone on the bed at the time and she fell down from the bed. But the news surfaced that the patient died due to shortage of beds and doctors forced two or three patients on a single bed.

Poonam Malakondaiah said that the patient fell down from the bed due to AFE but not due to shortage of bed.