Teenage girl dies due to rare complication of anesthesia during routine surgery to remove infected piercing

Any surgery has got its own risks, and we usually accept them as we go under anaesthesia. However, sometimes these complications can become lethal, and destroy families. This is what happened to Holly Fairchild, a 16-year-old girl from England, who passed away after her surgery.

Holly went in for an infected piercing

Holly Fairchild was a 'fit and healthy' girl, and a talented football player from Haddenham, a village near Oxford. She had already been through another surgery, under general anaesthesia, with no problem. However, on 26 August 2023, she died due to complications from a routine operation. She had walked into the Great Ormond Street Hospital for an infected ear-piercing. The operation went smoothly, but soon after, Holly suffered from a severe form of laryngospasm, called NPPE, which doctors describe as her vocal cords 'slamming shut'.

Laryngospasm is quite common among children who undergo general anaesthesia, but it can usually be solved with another anaesthetic called propofol. However, this did not work on Holly, and fluid started to build up in her lungs. The doctors told Holly's parents they had tried everything to save their daughter, but they were sadly unsuccessful. Holly died two days later in intensive care.

Her parents issued a tribute

Holly Fairchild leaves behind her parents and two brothers, who describe her as a 'confident, fun, and, sometimes, loud young lady who gave her best and never stopped smiling'. Following her death, her parents wanted answers, understandably. However, the hospital answered with their condolences, and an explanation that laryngospasm is very common in children. According to the doctors, no one could have seen Holly's death coming. Her family explained:

We found this whole process difficult to go through. We had to ask the NHS Trust so many questions that still remain unanswered. We remain concerned, what should have been a routine operation led to an outcome that is devastating.

They went to court and found out that the form of laryngospasm Holly suffered from is actually rare. One of Holly's doctors said this was the worst case of NPPE she had ever seen in her 14-year career. The coroner concluded:

Holly Fairchild died from a rare but recognised complication of general anaesthesia, in particular negative pressure pulmonary edema.

The surgeon who operated on Holly is now determined to educate other doctors on the possible outcomes of NPPE, and laryngospasm in general.

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Source used:

The Sun: TRAGIC LOSS ‘Fit and healthy’ girl, 16, dies after vocal cords ‘slammed shut’ during routine op to fix infected piercing