Makueni County Referral Hospital on spotlight over botched dental surgery

Makueni County Referral Hospital has come under scrutiny following claims by a patient who says a dental procedure at the facility went terribly wrong.

The patient, Everlyn Kamanthe, alleges that a tooth extraction she underwent in 2021 led to serious complications that nearly cost her life. She claims the situation forced her to undergo additional surgeries to correct the damage.

According to her account, Kamanthe visited the hospital on October 27, 2021, where a dentist advised that one of her teeth be removed. The extraction was carried out and she was discharged with medication. However, instead of improving, her condition reportedly worsened.

She says the lower jaw area began swelling due to an infection, causing severe pain and difficulty eating.

“After the tooth was removed and I was given medicine, the swelling and pain continued. I could not eat or pass anything on that side. The area became swollen and started producing pus, and the muscles on that side stopped functioning,” Everlyn narrated.

Following further consultation at the same facility, she was referred to a hospital in Nairobi for specialized treatment.

Kamanthe claims she was later informed that the infection had advanced and that she would need to pay KSh20,000 for tissue to be taken to Kenyatta for further analysis. She further alleges that doctors indicated her lower jaw would have to be removed because it had been severely affected.

The ordeal reportedly took a heavy personal toll, with Kamanthe saying the situation contributed to the breakdown of her marriage. She later managed to raise funds and underwent surgery at Megalife Hospital to remove the infected part of her jaw. She is currently awaiting a third procedure involving bone grafting and fitting of an artificial jaw.

Meanwhile, officials from the dental department at Makueni County Referral Hospital have defended their handling of the case.

Dr. Saul Nyambane, a dental surgeon at the facility, stated that the medical team followed proper procedures during the initial treatment.

“We attended to the patient and took her through the treatment process. At some point she disappeared and later returned with claims of negligence. We reassessed her condition and referred her to Nairobi Dental Hospital, where she was later diagnosed with a bone tumor,” said Dr. Nyambane.

Hospital officials maintain they are open to reviewing the case and have encouraged the patient to return for further evaluation and support.

“After investigations and treatment plans were made, the patient did not return to the hospital. We advise her to come back so we can review the process again and ensure the best possible care,” Dr. Nyambane added.