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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Pok Oi Hospital (POH) made the following announcement today (May 23) regarding an incident of a feeding tube incorrectly connected to tracheostomy tube of a patient:
A 45-year-old female patient with tongue cancer was admitted to POH Medical and Geriatric ward on May 13. The patient had a tracheostomy and a stomach stoma opened for breathing and feeding respectively after surgery. A Temporary Undergraduate Nursing Student (TUNS), who works as a part-time nursing staff in the ward, incorrectly connected the feeding tube to the patient's tracheostomy yesterday afternoon (May 22) while performing feeding procedure on the patient.
Upon starting the feed, the TUNS instantly noted the milk oozing out from the connection of the feeding tube, and immediately closed the clamp to stop the feeding. The ward nurse was informed. It was estimated that the whole process of feeding lasted for less than one minute. After finding out the feeding tube incorrectly connected to tracheostomy, the ward nurse immediately disconnected the feeding tube and performed the tracheal suction. Only little sputum was aspirated and no milk was found. Also, the patient's vital sign, including peripheral oxygen saturation level, remained normal. The on-call doctor was informed and attended the patient. The clinical and radiological examination of the patient's tracheostomy and lungs showed no abnormal finding.
The patient is being hospitalized in POH Medical and Geriatric ward with stable condition. The ward staff have enhanced monitoring of the patient's condition and her vital signs. The doctor in charge has also prescribed antibiotics to the patient to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
Preliminary investigation showed that the rate of milk feeding was very slow and most of the milk had leaked out from the connection site in the process. Since the wrong connection for tube feeding lasted for less than one minute, it is believed that less than a few millilitres of milk was involved.
POH is very concerned about the incident and has proactively explained and apologised to the relatives. The Patient Relations Officer will render necessary assistance to the patient and the relatives. POH will review the incident and has enhanced supervision to TUNS working in all wards.
POH has reported the matter to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the "Advance Incidents Reporting System". POH will investigate the incident and a report with root cause analysis and recommendations will be concluded in eight weeks to avoid the occurrence of similar incidents in future. POH expresses sincere apology to the patient and her family.
Ends/Monday, May 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:51
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