A glamorous law student died after suffering a severe allergic reaction while undergoing a routine medical procedure.
Leticia Paul, 22, was getting a contrast-enhanced CT scan at the Alto Valle Regional Hospital in Rio du Sul, Brazil on Wednesday when she went into anaphylactic shock, local outlets reported.
The severe reaction came from the fluid that is injected into the body before a scan.
The law student was immediately intubated at the hospital, but she died less than 24 hours after the procedure, her aunt Sandra Paul told G1.
The aunt explained that her niece had a history of kidney stones and underwent the CT scan, which uses X-rays and computer processing to create detailed cross-sections of the body.
Paul had recently earned a law degree from Colegio Sinodal Ruy Barbosa and was pursuing post graduate studies in Law and Real Estate, according to Oeste SC Noticias.
‘We express our solidarity with her family and friends, wishing them comfort and strength in this time of grief,’ her alma mater said.
In a statement following Paul’s untimely death, the Alto Vale Regional Hospital said it ‘regrets the loss and expresses its solidarity with the family.
‘We take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ethics, transparency and healthcare safety, highlighting that all procedures are conducted in accordance with recommended clinical protocols,’ the hospital said in a translated statement to G1.
Leticia Paul, 22, died after suffering a severe allergic reaction while undergoing a CT scan on Wednesday
The Alto Valle Regional Hospital in Rio du Sul, Brazil said it ‘regrets the loss and expresses its solidarity with the family’
Iodinated contrast is often injected into a vein during such CT scans, MRIs and X-rays to make the organs and tissues more visible.
The chemical substance is widely used in medicine and is generally considered safe, with severe allergic reactions only occurring in roughly one to 5,000 to one in 10,000 cases.
Most people will just experience mild symptoms, like warmth, nausea or itching after an IV is injected.
