A WOMAN who nearly died after being left with “catastrophic” bleeding following an operation is suing the NHS for damages.
Michelle Kollik, 42, lost more than seven pints of blood after going under the knife for a diagnostic laparoscopy, which is a procedure to allow doctors to view reproductive organs.
She was operated on by surgeon Makarand Oak in Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, before being sent back to wards to recover in 2010.
However, shortly afterwards, she began complaining of a severe pain in
her abdomen and was rushed straight back to theatre as her blood pressure plummeted.
When Dr Oak, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, re-examined her, it was discovered she was suffering massive blood loss and she came extremely
close to death before being saved by the team of surgeons in Hairmyres.
But now she is suing NHS Lanarkshire over the incident and has taken civil action against the health board at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Mrs Kollik, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire, claims she was told in the hospital her artery had been cut and that she required more than seven pints of blood while in intensive care. She also says she has been left scarred by the incident.
Dr Oak, who has flown from London to appear at the hearings, has denied being “cavalier” about the operation and insisted he had not cut through the artery that was causing the bleed.
He told the hearings before Sheriff Vincent Smith he could not initially identify where the bleeding was coming from.
He said: “We could not identify the arterial bleed that would be a pulsating bleed.
“We could not isolate a single bleeding point that we could hold and then tie to close it. The artery was not severed.
“Most, if not all, surgeons would look back at a case with complications and wonder what could have been done differently.”
A hospital report that had been written about the incident was read out in court and said the bleeding suffered by Mrs Kollik was “catastrophic” and she “could have died” from it.
When asked if he had been careless, Dr Oak said: “I was not cavalier about it, we could not see where the bleeding was coming from. I also had another surgeon with me who specialises in this area and that is why I asked for him to come in with us.
“I was not careless about anything and I would never put a patient at risk.
“I have no intent to willingly damage a patient, and I would say anybody who does is committing criminal negligence, no competent surgeon would ever put a patient at risk.”
Cascular surgeon Donald Reid told the court that when he arrived in the operating theatre Mrs Kollik was no longer bleeding and he noticed no damage to the artery.
He added: “The artery was unharmed and I saw it through its entire length and I’m very happy to say that.
“A tiny branch of a branch had continued to bleed and that is what caused this, there was 100 per cent no damage to the artery, in fact it was pristine when I saw it.”
The hearing continues.
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