Death of Tiruchi nursing student: Safety concerns raised over injection batch of dexamethasone

MGMGH increased the incidence of many serious adverse cardiac events suspected to be associated with dexamethasone injection.

Three patients, including a 20-year-old nursing student who died during elective septoplasty, developed serious cardiovascular complications suspected to be related to intravenous dexamethasone injection 8 mg (batch no. CHI-60004) during perioperative care at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH), Tiruchi. After the adverse cardiac events, the hospital authorities raised safety concerns about the drug with health officials, following which the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) began testing a batch of the drug.

On May 29, S. Kumaravel, Dean, MGMGH, Tiruchi, wrote to the Director of Medical Education and Research requesting an immediate drug analysis and necessary action based on a report from the hospital’s professor and head of anesthesiology regarding suspected adverse reactions associated with a particular batch of Dexamethasone 8 mg injection ampoule supplied by TNMSC. The drug is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat, including severe inflammation and allergic reactions

In a letter seen by The Hindu, the hospital has highlighted the occurrence of many serious adverse cardiac events suspected to be linked to the administration of dexamethasone injection manufactured by Cotec HealthCare Ltd, Roorkee batch number CHI-60004 at MGMGH.

Three patients who received the drug from a specific batch during perioperative management developed serious cardiovascular complications immediately after its intravenous administration. Adverse effects observed include ventricular tachyarrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, severe left ventricular dysfunction, hypotension, and refractory cardiogenic shock.

On May 28, 2026, a 49-year-old woman referred for elective mastoidectomy developed ventricular tachycardia followed by cardiomyopathy with cardiogenic shock. On the same day, a 40-year-old woman referred for emergency excision of an ectopic pregnancy scar developed severe tachycardia, hypotension, nondilated cardiomyopathy, and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

The letter further noted that a retrospective review identified another similar event in a 20-year-old woman, Seetha, who underwent elective septoplasty on May 22 and subsequently developed ventricular arrhythmias with refractory cardiogenic shock after receiving the same medication.

Due to the occurrence of similar life-threatening adverse reactions in multiple patients associated with the same batch of the drug, there is strong suspicion about the safety, sterility, purity, efficacy or overall quality of the pharmaceutical product, the hospital report said. This was reported through the Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Mechanism to the Department of Pharmacology.

TNMSC officials said they have received the message from MGMGH and are following the established protocols. “After receiving the report, we have issued a ‘stop order’ and withdrawn the batch of drugs. We have sent the drug for testing. We have started the process based on the hospital’s report. The final findings will be determined based on an objective assessment,” the official said.

Published – 1 Jun 2026 20:11 IST