Deceased
JOSEPHINE CESNIK
Demographics
76y, female
Coroner
Coroner Dr Jane Hendtlass
Date of death
2008-02-03
Finding date
2010-01-15
Cause of death
complications of subdural haemorrhage (operation)
AI-generated summary
Josephine Cesnik, 76, died from complications of subdural haemorrhage following head trauma on 20 January 2008. She initially concealed the injury, attributing it to a fall, and did not seek medical attention for 9 days despite worsening headache. When she presented to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department on 29 January with severe headache, subdural haematoma was diagnosed and surgery performed. Post-operatively, she developed cerebral infarction and died on 3 February. Key clinical lessons include the importance of thorough head injury assessment in elderly patients on anticoagulation (warfarin), recognition that delayed presentation of subdural haematoma can occur in older patients, and the need for proactive inquiry about head trauma mechanism rather than accepting patient-offered explanations. Earlier medical consultation might have enabled timelier diagnosis, though the outcome was ultimately determined by the severity of evolving intracranial pathology.
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Clinical conditions
Procedures
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