What happened at Ryhov Hospital?
A regional medical review in Sweden has raised alarms about how pediatric heart cases were handled at Ryhov County Hospital, part of Region Jönköping. The concerns emerged after a cardiologist who treated numerous children left the hospital in 2022, with colleagues later noting that several discharged patients still showed heart-related symptoms. The matter first surfaced publicly when P4 Jönköping reported discrepancies between initial diagnoses and patients’ subsequent health.
According to hospital leadership, an initial alert occurred about a year and a half ago from the newly established heart team, flagging cases that may have been managed with uncertainty. An external review began by examining five cases that had appeared through the hospital’s discharge processes, and one case led to a Lex Maria report to the Swedish Health and Care Inspectorate (IVO). IVO concluded that the hospital had taken adequate steps to prevent repetition, and that the specific clinician was no longer employed at Ryhov.
The scope widened: more cases under scrutiny
However, the investigation did not stop there. As the seriousness of the matter became clearer, the team decided to review all patients discharged by the former physician. The documentation shows that from 2018 to 2022, the physician closed nearly 500 cases. In total, 78 children were identified as needing to be called back for re-evaluation, with roughly 40 expected to be readmitted for further monitoring. So far, six of these children have required surgical intervention in the near term, though no urgent operation has been deemed immediately necessary for all.
To ensure a comprehensive assessment, the review expanded to include about 250 additional charts from the earlier years (2014–2017), bringing the total to more than 700 patient records under scrutiny. “This is not typical,” says Simon Rundqvist, chief physician and head of Ryhov’s operations, underscoring that the pattern stands out in its scale and potential impact on patient safety.
Eliza’s story: from recovered to re-evaluated
Among the families touched by this process is Emelie Skörd Björnberg and her daughter Eliza. Eliza was born with a hole between the atria of her heart, and at age one she was declared healthy by the doctor involved in the case. The family’s relief was immense, as is common after a “friskförklarad” (discharged as healthy) assessment. The doctor who performed that declaration did not continue to contribute to Eliza’s care thereafter.
Today, eight-year-old Eliza remains under specialized care for another condition—hyperinsulinism—which complicates her overall health. Emelie recalls a painful mix of relief and confusion; the later re-evaluation has rekindled concern that the heart defects may persist after all. The family received a call for a follow-up roughly two weeks before an appointment, and the examining clinician confirmed that the heart defects still exist. Eliza and her family are now re-entering cardiac care, with the possibility of surgery on the horizon, though the family hopes for alternatives if feasible.
What happens next in the region’s pediatric cardiac care?
For children in Region Jönköpings län who require heart surgery, the next destination in the care pathway is Barnhärtcentrum in Lund. Since 2022, the physician linked to this case has been based there, prompting a parallel review to determine whether similar patterns exist elsewhere. Katarina Hanséus, a senior physician and head of the Barnhjärtcentrum, notes that multiple families have reached out with worry and that the situation touches both children and their parents. “There is real, painful anxiety, with ripple effects in families,” she states, acknowledging the severity of the incident.
At present, the physician in question is not treating patients. In a joint decision, the clinician has been assigned other duties while the investigation continues. The Lund center has begun its own supplementary inquiry to ensure patient safety across the region’s pediatric heart services. DN has sought a comment from the physician, but there has been no response.
Why this matters for patient safety and trust
The Ryhov case underscores how crucial meticulous diagnostic work and consistent interpretation of heart imaging are for children. While it is essential to treat such discoveries with care and avoid unnecessary alarm, the goal remains clear: accurate diagnoses, careful follow-up, and transparent communication with families. The ongoing inquiries and cross-institution review aim to restore trust and improve standards of care for all young patients in the region.
