Woman Dies Following C-Section

Case Overview

This case takes place in Illinois and involves a woman who underwent an emergency C-section. During the delivery of the infant, the OBGYN noted several adhesions which were apparently interfering with the c-section procedure. The OBGYN decided to cut the adhesions in order to facilitate the delivery, at which point the patient began to hemorrhage. There was an attempt to stem the bleed and the patient was transferred to the PACU, where surgeons feared she was experiencing an amniotic fluid embolism. She was returned to the OR where a full hysterectomy was performed. Following this surgery, the patient continued to bleed, and the doctors were unable to locate the source of bleeding in time to save her life.

Questions to the Gynecology expert and their responses

Do you routinely treat patients with similar presentation to the one in this case? Do you routinely perform C sections?

Yes I do have experience with patients such as the one in this case.

Have you ever had a patient develop this complication?

I have had patients bleed and develop DIC after delivery, I have done hysterectomies after a c/section but never had a patient die in this situation.

Are you able to review the medical records and opine on this case on behalf of the plaintiff?

Yes Lysis of adhesions may be necessary and appropriate, since this is something that would only be found at the time of surgery. I'm not sure why a patient would bleed so much, unless there was something else besides adhesions-- could this have been a placenta accreta? Was pathology obtained on the uterine specimen? There may be more to this than it seems.

About the expert

This board certified expert has been practicing for over 25 years. He has been honored as a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has been selected as one of America's Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists 8 times by the American Research Council. He holds membership in numerous distinguished medical organizations and is the recipient of the American Medical Association's Physician's Recognition Award for Continuing Medical Education. Currently, this expert is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at a major hospital, where he is the President of the Ob/Gyn group practice and a member of the Clinical Faculty, instructing residents and medical students as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This expert also serves as the Vice President of a major women's medical center.