Maternal death at NA Hospital: Mother had clot in lung, baby hole in heart – autopsy report

An autopsy performed on the bodies of 24-year-old Devi Samaroo, who died at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Sunday and her newborn baby who died the previous day, concluded that the mother died from a blood clot in the lungs and the baby had a birth defect.

The cause of death for the infant was given as Congenital Malformation which a medical official explained is a physical defect present in a baby at birth, irrespective of whether the defect is caused by a genetic factor or by prenatal events that are not genetic. In such cases, the development of a structure is delayed or misdirected early in embryonic life and the effect is permanent.
The autopsy gave the cause of death of Samaroo as shock and pulmonary thromboembolism or a blood clot in the lungs.
Meanwhile, a release from the Regional Health Services said Samaroo had a massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism (blood clots in both the lungs), while the neonate suffered a congenital malformation known as Ventral Septal Defect (this is locally known as a hole in the heart). This condition is the second most common congenital heart defect, with a prevalence of 4 per 1000 births.
“Pregnancy and the post-partum period are well-established risk factors for pulmonary embolism which occurs in approximately 1 in 1600 pregnancies. In the United States, pulmonary embolism is one of the major causes of maternal death. About 10 per cent of patients with acute pulmonary embolism die suddenly,” the release said.
According to the statement from the Regional Health Services department, the New Amsterdam Hospital has referred the deaths and post-mortem results to the Health Ministry.
Family members when contacted said that they were not satisfied with the autopsy report and wanted a second opinion but could not afford it and will be focusing on burying their loved ones. (G4)