Finding into death of Hugh Peter Bourke
Deceased
Hugh Peter Bourke
Demographics
68y, male
Date of death
2011-01-06
Finding date
2011-09-07
Cause of death
Hypoxic brain injury and ischaemic heart disease
AI-generated summary
Hugh Peter Bourke, a 68-year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and recent abdominal surgery, suffered a cardiac arrest at home on 6 January 2011. He had undergone cholecystectomy in December 2010, complicated by cholecystoduodenal fistula, followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and stent placement on 31 December 2010. He was discharged on antibiotics four days before his arrest. The coroner found no evidence of preventable error. The clinical lesson emphasises appropriate post-operative follow-up and medication management in elderly patients with cardiac risk factors, particularly those undergoing complex biliary interventions. Documentation of clinical decision-making regarding continued antibiotic therapy and cardiac monitoring post-discharge would have been relevant.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Underlying ischaemic heart disease
- History of myocardial infarction
- Atrial fibrillation
- Recent abdominal surgery and cholecystoduodenal fistula
- Recent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and stent placement
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