Coroner's Finding: PETROCCIA Assunta

AI-generated summary

Assunta Petroccia, a 26-year-old woman, died from cardiorespiratory arrest due to massive gastric dilatation with rupture following a bulimic episode. She presented to hospital with severe abdominal pain and was incorrectly diagnosed with constipation by Dr F., the surgical registrar. While the diagnosis of acute gastric dilatation is rare and difficult, a critical radiological report describing 'veiling opacity' suggesting intra-peritoneal fluid was not reviewed by the treating doctor and was available on the hospital computer system he was unaware of. Had this report been read and further imaging pursued, the diagnosis might have been made. The case demonstrates failures in: familiarisation with diagnostic facilities, escalation of unusual presentations, and communication of radiological findings. Had the rare but serious diagnosis been made, more aggressive decompression of the stomach might have been undertaken to prevent rupture, though evidence suggests such treatment would not have been instituted given prevailing surgical knowledge at the time.

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