Guwahati, Dec. 4: Officials investigating the botched cataract surgeries at Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) here have found that standardised protocols were not thoroughly followed during the medical procedures.

Five patients, who underwent cataract surgeries at the MMCH on November 27, later developed severe infections and eventually lost vision in one eye. The hospital performs free cataract surgeries six days a week.

"Though the inquiries ordered by Dispur and Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to probe the botched surgeries are in their preliminary stages, it has been confirmed that a deviation from the standardised protocol occurred. It is now up to the inquiry panels to find out as to what extent the deviation took place," a highly-placed source told The Telegraph today.

The source alleged that the casual approach of an eye surgeon, who conducted the operations, was one of the prime reasons for the fiasco. The surgeon concerned was reluctant to adhere to the standardised protocol for cataract surgery, the source said.

The government has already suspended the surgeon and a nurse of MMCH for their alleged negligence during the botched surgeries.

"Standardised protocol implies ophthalmologists and nurses need to follow certain pre and post-operative medical investigations and procedures in order to ensure safe cataract surgeries. For example, patients with systemic illnesses are encouraged to go back to their physicians to try and control their problem before taking admission at the hospital for cataract surgery," a doctor said.

According to protocol, the patient has to be examined the day after the surgery and doctors should check the patients' vision with and without a pinhole occluder and also examine the anterior segment of the eye. The aim of post-operative examination is to look for complications and any early sign of inflammation or infection.

"Some of these protocols were either violated or partially followed while conducting the surgeries at MMCH last week," a source said.

The five patients were discharged on the following day (November 28) of their surgeries and when they came to the hospital for a check-up on November 30, they complained of discomfort and pain in their eye. They were immediately referred to Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, where doctors refereed them back to MMCH after finding that the patients had developed eye infections and needed antibiotic injections.

The antibiotic injections were administered at MMCH on December 1 and 2 but to no avail.

On December 3, doctors at Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya performed eviscerations on the infected eyes.

The inquiry teams visited MMCH today to record statements of doctors. "The inquiry teams will also find out other causes and circumstances that led to the loss of vision of the five patients. During the surgery, the hospital has to maintain sterility and many people are part of that drill. So, it will be unfair (only) to blame a doctor or a nurse," the source said.