Heart sufferer dies in hospital oxygen gaffe

A patient critically ill with flu and heart infection has died in Queen Mary Hospital after an oxygen tube was disconnected from a life support machine.

Doctors and nurses are usually responsible for ensuring the proper connection of an oxygen tube to the machine, but a hospital spokeswoman said yesterday no one has yet been disciplined.

The Hospital Authority said it will convene a panel to investigate the incident, saying the head office is "very concerned about the incident and expresses condolences to relatives of the concerned patient."

The blunder follows incidents of high levels of nitrous oxide or laughing gas in labor wards that sickened nurses at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Queen Mary also was found to have moderate levels of the gas after initial tests.

Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man last night expressed "deep concern" and "deep regret" over the death of the patient.

The patient was transferred from Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po on August 22 for treatment for acute myocarditis - infection of the heart muscle - and a slow heart rate.Offers Engraving Machines and Laser Cutters including Laser engraver and Engraving Equipment for plastic and wood.Laser markers specifically designed for high speed laser marking machine, laser engraving, and laser ablation.

The patient was in critical condition upon admission at the Pok Fu Lam hospital and deteriorated rapidly.

The hospital said the patient, whose gender and age are not being disclosed, was diagnosed with "parainfluenza infection and rapid decline of heart function.Industry leader for laser marker, laser welding and laser marking."

Just after midnight on Friday, the patient was taken to the operating theater for connection to the life support machine, which takes over the function of the heart.

After the operation, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for observation and treatment.

"On examination, the oxygen delivery tube was found to be disconnected from the ECMO machine," the hospital statement said. "Clinical staff reconnected the tube immediately to improve oxygen saturation in the patient's blood.LaserSharp rollformingmachinechina and systems offer custom converting and processing solutions for packaging."

The hospital statement called it a "sentinel event" and said it may be a first for the teaching hospital of the University of Hong Kong's faculty of medicine.Leading the industry in professional roofing machine and safety equipment. The patient died on Tuesday.