GYNAECOLOGIST/OBSTETRICIAN at the Balwant Singh Hospital, Dr. Mahdu Singh has said the pregnant Slellene Jagjit-Ragoobeer did not die because of the C-Section operation she underwent but succumbed to a postpartum condition known as HELLP.

The doctor who practises at the East Street Georgetown institution explained that HELLP syndrome is characterised by haemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count.
She said HELLP is present in less than one percent of all pregnancies and only 30 percent postpartum.
The doctor recalled that Jagjit-Ragobeer visited her on May 18 and informed that a test done elsewhere had proved she had high blood pressure for which she was given a tablet.
The doctor said, when the patient paid a return visit for a check-up, she had to admit her to the hospital because her pressure was very high and her feet were swollen.
She stated, further, that the woman’s baby was delivered at about 11:00hrs and, that evening, around 20:30hrs her pressure began to fall but, after treatment, it rose and her urine output was much less.
“That is how we were able to diagnose the HELLP syndrome,” the doctor pointed out.
Fluid build-up
She said it was observed that Jagjeet-Ragobeer’s abdomen was swelling due to fluid build-up and the woman was taken to the operating theatre to drain it after a camera was used to see inside her.
The patient began to bleed from her stomach and her blood pressure began to fall, again, but doctors were unable to stop it, although treatment was immediate.
However, because of the young woman’s liver, her clotting was severely undermined and bleeding from her stomach meant that her pressure could not be maintained. Treatment was given in the form of blood transfusion among others, the doctor said.
The family of dead Jagjit-Ragoobeer are awaiting the result of the scheduled post mortem.