Hospital sources revealed that at the Colombo National Hospital’s B operating room a patient has passed away on the operating bed after receiving carbon dioxide instead of oxygen during a surgical procedure for breast surgery.
The deceased is identified as a 61-year-old unmarried woman from the Nugegoda district. She was admitted to operating theater B for breast surgery, and her body is currently in the hospital mortuary.
The cause of death is reported as a deficiency of oxygen, leading to respiratory hypoxia. The hospital authorities confirmed that a preliminary investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Ravi Kumudesh, Chairman of the Paramedic Services Joint Task Force, acknowledged the incident in his statement, assuring that efforts are being made to gather accurate information about the tragic event. The hospital is actively cooperating in the investigation to ascertain the details of the oxygen mix-up that resulted in this unfortunate loss of life.
