Northside Hospital Atlanta complaint alleges a newborn’s bile-colored vomiting went unreported before fatal volvulus
The complaint alleges that a newborn at Northside Hospital Atlanta repeatedly vomited bile-colored fluid in the nursery and later the NICU. Nurses did not tell a physician that the vomit had turned bile-colored. After he was moved to the NICU, his abdomen became distended and discolored, and he developed severe metabolic acidosis and severe anemia requiring blood transfusions. That night he was transferred to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a surgical evaluation. Surgeons found two rotations of volvulus with his entire midgut distended and black. His parents withdrew care, and he died at two days old. The complaint alleges that his NICU physician did not recognize the likelihood of bowel ischemia as early in her shift as she should have.
Overview
This page concerns a public complaint alleging that nurses did not tell a physician about a newborn’s bile-colored vomit before fatal volvulus.
Chronology
The complaint alleges as follows:
- A newborn, one of twins, was born by cesarean section at Northside Hospital Atlanta in March 2023, with Apgar scores of 8 and 9.
- That evening a nurse recorded green-tinged vomit and a distended abdomen. The records do not show that a physician was told the vomit’s color.
- Just after midnight the next morning a nurse told the neonatologist, who admitted the newborn to the NICU for feeding intolerance.
- During that day his abdomen became distended and discolored, and he developed severe metabolic acidosis and severe anemia requiring blood transfusions.
- That night he was transferred to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a surgical evaluation for possible volvulus.
- Early the next morning surgeons found two rotations of volvulus with his entire midgut distended and black.
- His parents withdrew care, and he died in their arms that evening at two days old.
Alleged failures
The complaint alleges the following failures:
- Dr. Drohan did not recognize the significance of likely bowel ischemia early enough during her shift.
- During her shift, she did not order an upper gastrointestinal contrast study to evaluate for possible volvulus or start a surgical consult.
- She did not tell the incoming neonatologist about concern for possible malrotation and volvulus when she handed off his care.
- Nurses did not tell a physician that the newborn’s vomit had turned bile-colored on five separate occasions.
- The complaint alleges that Neonatology Associates of Atlanta and Northside Hospital are vicariously liable for the physician’s and nurses’ alleged negligence.
- The complaint pleads medical malpractice, wrongful death, and survivorship and estate claims, with expert affidavits under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.