JJ Hosp patient dies after CT scan injection

JJ Hosp patient dies after CT scan injection

A dye contrast drug used before a CT scan at JJ Hospital allegedly claimed the life of a patient who suffered an adverse reaction after being injected with it on October 16. Though a minor skin reaction to the drug is common, this was the first case of death due to the reaction. 52-year-old Kandivli resident Tara Sumra underwent a CT scan of the chest area on October 16 at JJ Hospital’s radiology department. She was intravenously injected with a dye drug. After the scan, she was shifted to the ward. Post lunch, she started experiencing breathlessness and multiple bouts of vomiting. She was then shifted to the emergency ward and later admitted to the critical care unit. In less than 24 hours, she developed complications and succumbed. Two days after her sudden death, a meeting of doctors from the committee which monitors death due to adverse reactions was convened at JJ Hospital by the dean Dr TP Lahane. The committee decided to officially discontinue the usage of that particular injection used in CT scan procedures. Dr Lahane said, “The patient suffered from problems of interstitial lung disease, scleroderma, tuberculosis and arthritis. Her CT scan was scheduled on Tuesday and the contrast dye used at the CT scan center led to an adverse reaction. Following the reaction, she died on Wednesday morning around 2.30 am.” He added, “We have stopped using the drug at our hospital and have sealed the remnant packs. Out of 400 units we have already used 325 units and the remaining have been sealed and handed over to the FDA authorities for lab testing.”