Rebecca Jones, 24, woke up during her operation at the Alice Springs Hospital, but unable to scream for help. Picture: Justin Brierty.

Surgery agony: 'I felt every cut of the knife'

Rebecca Lollback

18Nov08

A WOMAN says she will have nightmares for the rest of her life after a horrific operation gone wrong at the Alice Springs Hospital.

During the ordeal Rebecca Jones, 24, claims she woke up during abdominal surgery and could feel every cut of the surgeon's knife.
But she was unable to scream for help as the anesthesia had paralysed her.
The hospital's general manager Vicki Taylor has refused to meet with her over the issue.
Ms Taylor also refused to be interviewed by the Centralian Advocate last night.
Rebecca said she was in agony as surgeons cut open her abdomen. She has discussed the case with the NT Health Ombudsman and is considering legal action.
In a written statement last night, Ms Taylor conceded Rebecca had been "awake" during the operation to remove her gall bladder. She denied the hospital knew of Rebecca's pain.
But an official hospital review of the case stated a second anesthetist had found "the administration of the anesthetic may not have been adequate" and adjustments were made.
Rebecca maintains hospital staff had been "well aware" she was in agony.
She said: "My husband was told that I'd almost died on the operating table.
"Doctors said the heart machine was going crazy, my oxygen levels were really low and my blood pressure was high."
Rebecca was admitted to hospital on October 8 suffering gallstones. Doctors decided to do keyhole surgery on October 13, but warned her they might need to do a full operation.
She was told the surgery would be over by 1pm. By 4pm, Rebecca's mother started to worry soemthing had gone wrong. She asked questions, but no-one in the hospital would tell her what was happening.
Rebecca said she woke up just as doctors were about to start the full operation. She was paralysed and could not open her eyes, but could hear and feel everything.
She said: "I was very aware of what was happening to me.
"I thought the doctors had woken me up because the surgery was over _ I quickly realised that was not the case.
"It first hit me when I tried to take a breath. I couldn't move and started to panic. I could feel them cutting me open. I can't describe how it felt. I've never felt anything like it before.
Rebecca said: "Then I actually managed to move my hand and someone in the room noticed it. He said, 'she's just moved her hand'. But they kept going.
"I was trying to scream, to do anything. I managed to move again _ I believe that I moved my legs and head. That's when they really started to take notice and they gave me more drugs."
A hospital review of Rebecca's case "indicated there had been difficulties with the anesthetic induction due to unforseen clinical circumstances in relation to the medical condition of the patient".
The anesthetist thought these clinical difficulties had been overcome. But Ms Taylor said another check by a different anesthetist found more anesthetic needed to be given.
But the damage was already done. When Rebecca woke up from the surgery, the first thing she did was scream for her mother.

And her ordeal was not yet over. Just five days later doctors operated again because a drain had been stitched inside her stomach.
She was terrified of going back to the operating theatre.
She said: "I actually said no at first. The thought of going back in there and being put under again frightened me so much.
"But the second time, I was allowed to have my mum in the operating theatre with me, and she stayed until she knew I was asleep.
"The head of the anesthetics department did that -- I was told he came in especially to do it."
Since leaving the hospital, Rebecca said she has not heard from any of the staff.
She was offered five counselling sessions and has had two, but her counsellor is now on holidays until February. She was told by hospital staff that if she required further counselling beyond the five, it would be at her own expense.
Ms Taylor said the hospital had offered Rebecca "all available care and support from medical, nursing and allied health staff".
Rebecca said: "They have just completely stuffed up.
"The day after the first surgery, an anesthetist came to see me and my husband, Jarrad. He said he knew something had gone wrong. Jarrad asked whether it had been safe to continue with the surgery. The anesthetist said no."
Another anesthetist told her to "forget about it" and that it would "go away".
Rebecca said: "I want answers. I don't want the hospital to get away with this. I have to live with this for the rest of my life. I have nightmares and trust me, they're crackers.
"My whole life has stopped because of it. I've been off work. I couldn't drive until last week, I can't lift things and I can't sleep. I haven't even had an apology. I think that the hospital has a lot to answer for."
Ms Taylor said the hospital had recently purchased a new brain monitoring machine, which would prevent similar incidents.
She said:
"The hospital regrets the occurrence of this incident, even though it is a rare occurrence.
"The hospital will be happy to provide any further assistance to the patient."