Stephanie Kuleba, High School Cheerleader, Dies From Breast Implant Complications

Palm Beach Post :

Stephanie Kuleba had a charmed life: captain of the varsity cheerleading squad at West Boca High, a nearly perfect grade-point average, good looks and a ticket to the University of Florida, where she would start her journey toward becoming a medical doctor.

Her friends said she was "perfect," so when Kuleba died Saturday of complications from breast augmentation surgery, none of them could understand how the girl whose success in life "was a sure thing" could perish in such a strange and devastating fashion.

....While no official cause of death was released by authorities or Kuleba's family, many of her friends said she suffered a severe reaction to anesthesia given to her during a breast augmentation procedure Friday night.

Read the whole story: Palm Beach Post

Comments

[drblack]

I hope by Huffpost and others spreading this news it will make people think before having surgery .
It is completely appropriate to report this event.

[drblack]

ANY surgical procedure, especially those involving anesthesia is dangerous and can kill you.
Only go into surgery if your life is in danger or your quality of life is seriously diminished.
Anytime a young person dies it is extra sad.

[DontEvenThinkIt]

This story is just so sad, and so completely disturbing that a young, bright, popular, attractive young woman still feels insecure about herself enough to undergo an unnecessary surgery to even out her breasts and enlarge them.
Every woman's breasts are assymetrical, and as for the inverted nipples, if she eventually had a child and breast fed, the nipples usually correct themselves.
If you look at some of the news stories from Florida which show her pictures, she looks like she was out having a good time with her friends, the breasts not really affecting her life that much. Instead of paying for a surgery for her breasts, her parents should have stressed the postive attributes in her. And maybe paid for counseling so she could understand why she felt so insecure. Much less risk associated with counseling.

[ArchAngel]

Breast implants are just as stupid and absurd as women's padded shoulder pads. And they are used for exactly the same stupid and absurd reasons.

[rixhex56]

One must wonder if all those taking time to despise this girl, and her family, would still be doing so if this had occurred during a dental procedure requiring anesthesia. I also find myself wondering how many of them consider themselves "Christians". Blaming people for their genetics seems to be a popular theme with Christians.

[GerryS]

The how, what and why it happened is not the point. My condolences to the family!

This is a family tragedy, and should not be paraded on HuffPo as news. Shame on you for this insult-

[tehriaz]

ok, so what? she died for vanity. inverted nipples aren't life-threatening. the surgery was unnecessary and a DISGUSTING display of excess money and vanity. call me heartless, but I honestly don't feel bad for her at all. maybe this will make plastic american society turn the lens of judgment to a more introspective angle.

[anney]

Here's more on the cause of death: http://www.huliq.com/54843/malignant-hyperthermia-kills-fl-cheerleader-stephanie-kuleba

Malignant hyperthermia caused by a genetic defect?

[SeagirlX]

What is a cute girl like this doing getting breast implants? That's what's sad about society. People can't even be accepted for the people they are. And she's so pretty! It's such a sad and tragic event. My heart goes out to her family and friends. It's a shame.

[Irtnog]

What struck me about this is that the girl had a "white lexus" yet a collection is being taken up to help with costs. HUH?

[BroMan]

Ditto.

[TXfemmom]

HuffPost's Pick

As an anesthesia professional, this malignant herperthermia is a condition triggered by a congenital, genetic defect. It could have been triggered at any time by the administration of anesthesia. It is doubly sad that she suffered from it, and then expired while having a cosmetic procedure. However, she may well have suffered the outcome with another procedure at another time.

The condition is rare, but well known and discussed, and I myself had three patients with it. I had to administer anesthesia to two known patients with the condition and the steps required to prevent the triggering of it were extraordinary in nature, but because we knew about it,, and took the extraordinary steps to avoid triggers, which are routinely and safely administered to millions, neither suffered it again during my care. The other case was triggered, caught quickly by me, aggressively treated, and the patient achieved a good outcome.. I had taken an excellent history, and asked VERY POINTEDLY IF THE PATIENT OR FAMILY MEMBERS EVER EXPERIENCED ANY DIFFICULTIES OR COMPLICATIONS WITH ANESTHESIA AND WAS TOLD NO. In fact, this patient WAS well aware that a close, related relative had experienced it and the ENTIRE FAMILY HAD BEEN TOLD TO BE TESTED AND THEY IGNORED IT.

Don't be so quick to blame the anesthesia team, but rapid recognition and aggressive treatment can save many of these patients, but even with aggressive, and appropriate treatment,s a high percentage of those who have it triggered will not survive, despite appropriate care.

[Mort]

Thanks for the explanation. People here are too quick to wag tongues and point fingers without getting the facts.

This is so sad. A parent should never have to bury their child. Also sad that she felt the need to change her body when she was such a beautiful young lady. At least that's not what killed her. My condolences go out to her family.

[desteef]

I live in the Netherlands

I've been tested positve (so bad news), but with using the right more expensive kind of anesthesia.
Last week my 4 years old son has had anesthesia. Because of his age he could not be tested,
so he was considered vulnarable.
The following precautions were taken:
- No Gas (not nice for a child)
- No succinyl-choline
- Dantrolene present (obligatory with all operations in this country)
What i've read about this case was that the Dantrolene was not present in the case of Stephanie,
but i'm not sure

[YellowPanties]

This is sad, end of story. Show some decency.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

Yes, I agree. Read more than just the headlines, people!

This is a young woman who died during corrective surgery, and the stupidity and cruelty of some of these comments make my skin crawl.

[ChiGuy]

How tragic that this young lady felt the need to "improve" herself.

Any young girl whose self-esteem is tied to her appearance was failed by her parents.

[cdnnewsjunky]

Lots of people don't realize how much of a factor their anesthesioligist plays in their chances of surviving surgery!

[robinhood1]

Was this considered a medically necessary procedure covered by insurance or was the operation paid for by the girl's wealthy parents? I imagine girls from poor families would not get such "medical care".

"Experts note that Kuleba's death also serves as a reminder that any surgery, no matter how commonplace, has its risks." quote from the article