Lourdes Margarita, a 23-year-old mother, died late Monday night at the Hospital General de Saltillo hours after giving birth to her daughter, following a severe postpartum hemorrhage that led to a progressive deterioration of her health, according to local medical reports and regional coverage.
The tragedy has prompted an active investigation by the Fiscalía General del Estado in Saltillo, Mexico, after family members clashed with hospital staff following the announcement of the death, requiring intervention from the municipal police.
Timeline of Events at the Hospital General de Saltillo
According to medical information reported by outlets such as El Tiempo and Noticias NRT, Lourdes Margarita had attended routine prenatal checkups throughout her pregnancy. She arrived at the Hospital General de Saltillo at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Monday to await delivery under observation, whether through natural childbirth or a cesarean section.
At approximately 3:40 p.m., medical personnel activated emergency protocols after the patient experienced a severe hemorrhage related to the delivery. Doctors spent roughly an hour and a half performing various procedures to control the bleeding, but her condition continued to worsen.
By 7:30 p.m., emergency protocols were re-activated as the patient suffered cardiac arrest. Medical staff performed resuscitation maneuvers and inserted a breathing tube. Because the bleeding persisted, physicians transferred her to the operating room for surgical intervention.
Around 9:30 p.m., the young mother experienced another cardiac arrest, though staff temporarily restored her circulation. At approximately 11:00 p.m., her condition deteriorated further with a new cardiac arrest, forcing doctors to suspend the surgery to focus entirely on resuscitation efforts.
Hospital personnel administered blood products and medication while performing eight cycles of resuscitation over the course of an hour. Despite these interventions, medical staff confirmed her death at 11:58 p.m.
Complications Involving the Newborn and Official Investigations
While medical teams fought to save the mother, the newborn also faced immediate health challenges. Pediatrics personnel informed the family that the baby girl was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, restricting her oxygen supply. Doctors provided immediate medical attention, and the infant remained under observation and treatment at the hospital.
Initial medical reports attribute the preliminary cause of death to severe blood loss from postpartum hemorrhage. However, authorities transported the body of Lourdes Margarita to the Servicio Médico Forense to undergo a mandatory necropsy. The legal autopsy will establish the official cause of death and form part of the ongoing investigative file opened by state prosecutors.
Following the confirmation of her death, tensions rose between grieving family members and hospital workers, prompting municipal police officers to secure the premises during the early morning hours. State investigators subsequently arrived at the facility to gather evidence and review the medical records.
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