What was supposed to be routine knee replacement surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Nashville on Aug. 14 left Glenda Dorton, an avid gardener from Centerville, Tennessee, paralyzed after a medication mix-up involving her and three other patients, according to her daughter-in-law, Kristina Dorton.
“Instead of the anesthetic that was going into her spine for that epidural procedure, before the surgery even started, it was potassium,” Kristina Dorton told the Nashville Tennessean, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. “We were told that it came directly from pharmacy. I want to be very clear that this was not the doctor’s fault. This was not the anesthesiologist’s fault. This was not the care team’s fault.”
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO of the Midtown hospital, issued a statement but didn’t disclose the condition of the other three patients, citing patient confidentiality.
“Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event,” Jagasia wrote. “We self-reported to state regulators and launched a thorough investigation. We identified the cause and have implemented corrective safeguards.”
Jagasia did not disclose the investigation’s findings or specify what corrective measures the hospital implemented. When reached by phone, the pharmacy at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown declined to comment.
Kristina Dorton said hospital employees told her that three other patients undergoing surgery on their joints Aug. 14 were treated with “contaminated vials” before medical staff noticed two patients had similar complications and halted surgeries that day. She added that she has no reason to believe it could have been an intentional act by a rogue employee.
“We’re not looking to ruin somebody’s life,” she said. “They need to figure it out so it never happens.”
The knee replacement surgery for Glenda Dorton, 72, seemed to have gone well until she woke up in recovery and couldn’t move or feel anything from the sternum down.
She was then rushed to Ascension Saint Thomas West, where doctors placed her on a ventilator and drained her spinal fluid to remove the excess potassium in the intensive care unit. They also gave her a high dose of steroids hoping to reverse the damage, her daughter-in-law said.
The ventilator was removed Aug. 15, but Glenda Dorton still couldn’t move her lower body or feel anything from her ribcage down.
Her husband, Marvin Dorton,of more than 50 years, has remained by her bedside, her family said.
Kristina Dorton, of Chattanooga, said hospital staff told the family Aug. 18 that her mother-in-law had a T6 paralysis, which affects the sixth thoracic vertebra in the mid-back.
She said hospital officials told her family they will update them on the investigation.
“The hospital has been very transparent with us and we are very grateful and we hope that continues,” she said.
Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com or on X at @BethWarrenCJ.