Fla. Teen Dies During Breast Surgery

(CBS/AP)  A South Florida teenager who was captain of her high school cheerleading squad and had plans to become a doctor died after corrective breast surgery, a family attorney said Tuesday.

Stephanie Kuleba, 18, died Saturday, about 24 hours after her surgery. Kuleba was rushed to Delray Medical Center about two hours into the procedure to correct asymmetrical breasts and inverted areola, family attorney Roberto Stanziale said.

Kuleba went to her doctor's outpatient office, not a hospital for the procedure, reports CBS News' The Early Show. Both her plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist were board certified.

At 8:05 a.m. on Friday Kubela went into surgery.

At 9:15 a.m., the operating room nurse said everything is fine.

At 9:45 a.m., the doctor said that there is a problem and that paramedics are on their way.

At around 11:30 a.m., at the Delray Medical Center, the doctor tells Kuleba's family that they believe Stephanie suffered from malignant hyperthermia and is placed in intensive care.

"Malignant hyperthermia is a catastrophic condition that's caused by certain anesthetic agents that trigger a chain reaction within the body which puts into a hyper or increased metabolic state," plastic surgeon Dr. Frederick Lukash told The Early Show.

Lukash said doctors can use Dantrolene - which is "the ultimate and end all treatment" for this malignant hyperthermia - but that it must be started immediately once symptoms occur.

"This was something that was believed to be a routine procedure," said Stanziale, who added that it was too early to determine if any legal action would be taken. "There was never any indication that she was not going to walk out of that surgical suite. It's obviously devastating."

A message left after-hours at the clinic where Kuleba's surgery was performed was not immediately returned and a telephone listing for the Kuleba family was unavailable.

Grieving friends turned Kuleba's parking space at a Boca Raton high school into a makeshift memorial with flowers, candles and a teddy bear. Friends called Kuleba "Sunshine" because of her blonde hair and smile.

"I have chills right now just thinking about it," Ashley Gutknecht, 18, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "It doesn't seem real."

[keithle1]

It''s dark in Sunshine''s world now. When a cheerleader dies, the world cries. Please take care of her, baby Jesus.

[libsrweak]

well she did what she always wanted to do..IMPRESS OTHERS.

well i am impressed.

[tednelson21]

Tragic, but there are tons of teens that do survive this surgery. If you are young and thinking about it, come here for every reason too. www.theoandavirus.com

Remember, it makes you look better.

[keithle1]

This was a top priority in her life? Why? She was planning to be a stripper or porn star?

Young girls these days are nuts. They have to be absolutely PERFECT. Dead because of vanity.

[facts6]

The error was in having surgery in a center rather than a hospital. I implore you if you are having anesthesia, please, please do it in the hospital.

Hospitals are prepared for crashes. Most of the centers are not.

[guysdigdirt]

It''''s a shame that we have an economy so good that it allows people to be so extravagant.
Posted by downsteamjim

We all have our areas of importance, what is extravagant to you might be necessary to another based on the circumstances. If she was traumatized by the abnormality it makes sense to fix it, if possible. If however she just did not want some guy to get his hands on them and then have to deal with the questions of the college boys, then... that would have to be a sad thing for parent to think they daughter died for.

[harrydoghiny]

And this is a top story because.....??
With all the real news out there to report cBS continues to be the Enquirer of the corporate media.

[barbaraf4]

"If she had been African American, this story wouldn''t have even been written."
Posted by godofredo29 at 11:52 AM : Mar 26, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I realize that there is no situation too sacred or sensitive that race cannot be introduced and beaten to death; however you are WRONG. Donda West (mother of Kanye West) also died in a doctor''s office while having plastic surgery.

[apdepetris]

The article stated that she died from anesthesia complications. That could have happened no matter what kind of surgery she had. Of course it is more sad when it occurs because of an elective procedure. Every kind of surgery has risks. It may be 1 in a million odds that something bad will occur, but it doesn''t make a difference if you happen to be that one.

[linfinster]

Heads need to roll? This doesn''t seem to be anything that was caused by negligence. Our medical cost soar because of ambulance chaser lawyers and those taking a risk don''t want to be responsible for their actions. Of course we don''t have the whole story, really. You don''t know what went on in surgery, but if there''s a chance to twist the truth and get some money ... someone will be there to start the spin. My condolences to the family.