Coronial
SAaged care

Coroner's Finding: CLAYTON James Edmund

Deceased

James Edmund Clayton

Demographics

59y, male

Date of death

2013-03-03

Finding date

2016-08-19

Cause of death

ischaemic heart disease due to coronary atherosclerosis; acute myocardial infarction of posterior left ventricle and posterior right ventricle

AI-generated summary

A 59-year-old man with ischaemic heart disease, paranoid schizophrenia, unstable type 2 diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and chronic renal failure died of acute myocardial infarction while residing in aged care. He had been admitted to hospital on 6 February 2013 with a silent myocardial infarction showing severe left ventricular dysfunction, but discharged himself against medical advice before coronary angiography could be performed. Autopsy confirmed a large recent posterior myocardial infarction. Clinical lessons include: the importance of securing appropriate investigations and stabilisation before discharge in high-risk cardiac patients; managing non-compliance and agitation in mentally ill patients with serious cardiac disease; and ensuring adequate cardiac risk stratification and monitoring in aged care residents with multiple comorbidities. Hypoglycaemia at death may have contributed. Earlier coronary angiography and potential intervention might have altered outcome.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

cardiologypsychiatrynephrologyemergency medicinegeriatric medicine

Error types

diagnosticdelay

Clinical conditions

ischaemic heart diseaseacute myocardial infarctioncoronary atherosclerosissilent myocardial infarctionsevere left ventricular dysfunctionparanoid schizophreniatype 2 diabetes mellituschronic renal failureperipheral vascular diseasehypoglycaemia

Procedures

coronary angiographyechocardiographyhaemodialysisautopsy

Contributing factors

  • Recent silent myocardial infarction with severe left ventricular dysfunction
  • Premature discharge against medical advice before coronary angiography
  • Incomplete cardiac investigation and risk stratification
  • Uncontrolled diabetes and renal failure
  • Hypoglycaemia at time of death
  • Non-compliance with medications
  • Patient agitation and psychiatric illness complicating management
Full text

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