Deceased
Roswitha Maria Osang
Demographics
66y, female
Date of death
2013-10-01
Finding date
2016-04-11
Cause of death
Cardiac failure due to atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease
AI-generated summary
A 66-year-old woman died from cardiac failure due to atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. She presented to a rural GP with ankle oedema, cough, and palpitations during interstate travel. The GP diagnosed mild heart failure with atrial fibrillation and prescribed both a diuretic (frusemide) and a beta-blocker (sotalol) simultaneously. Sotalol should not be initiated in untreated heart failure as it can exacerbate the condition. The patient deteriorated the next day with cardiogenic shock and died despite resuscitation. Expert evidence indicated the patient likely would not have died without sotalol prescription. Key clinical lessons: cardiac failure must be excluded in older patients presenting with ankle oedema and relevant risk factors; abnormal liver function tests warrant diagnostic reconsideration; beta-blockers should only be introduced after diuresis and stabilization of heart failure; and rural GPs managing transient patients require clear guidance on high-risk medication prescribing.
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Specialties
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Procedures
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