A MAN died in hospital following heart surgery after doctors had difficulty managing a tube used to help him to breathe, an inquest has heard. The coroner recorded a verdict of medical misadventure.
James Waugh (75), Castle Avenue, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, underwent triple bypass surgery at St James’s Hospital at the end of April 2008.
Doctors had difficulty in weaning Mr Waugh off the ventilator, and a tracheotomy, a surgical procedure on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision in the windpipe, was performed and a tracheotomy tube inserted.
On May 18th, nurses found it difficult to ventilate Mr Waugh and attempts were made to reposition the tube, Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard.
There appeared to have been some blockage of the tube, but no obvious obstruction was seen.
An endotracheal tube was inserted to help the air reach his lungs. This was technically difficult as he suffered muscle spasms in the neck and was deprived of oxygen. He suffered a heart attack and died.
“The difficulty in managing the airway caused respiratory failure,” coroner Dr Brian Farrell said.