Serious allegations of medical negligence have surfaced at the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology after a surgical instrument was allegedly left inside a patient’s chest during open-heart surgery.

According to reports, cardiac surgeon Dr Zaigham Rasool performed open-heart surgery on patient Chaudhry Saqlain on April 4 at the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology.

The patient reportedly returned to the hospital nearly three weeks later after suffering severe chest pain. An X-ray conducted on April 23 allegedly revealed that a pair of surgical scissors had been left inside his chest during the earlier operation.

Sources said Dr Zaigham Rasool performed a second surgery the same day to remove the instrument.

An inquiry committee formed over the incident reportedly placed responsibility on two staff nurses, Aqsa Sardar and Nida Arfa. Hospital administration also declared both nurses responsible for the negligence.

According to reports, nurse Aqsa Sardar had assisted Dr Zaigham during the original surgery.

Sources further alleged that the patient’s medical record was later removed from the hospital’s online system.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over patient safety and oversight in Punjab’s public hospitals.