Deceased
Pauline Mary Riordan
Demographics
61y, female
Coroner
Deputy State Coroner Paresa Spanos
Date of death
2013-12-23
Finding date
2019-01-31
Cause of death
injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision as a passenger
AI-generated summary
A 61-year-old woman died from hypovolaemic shock and cardiac arrest following a motor vehicle collision in rural Victoria. She was trapped in her vehicle for approximately 90 minutes with severe crush injuries and lower limb entrapment. While paramedics provided appropriate field care including fluids and analgesia, the extended extrication time delayed definitive treatment including blood transfusion available only at hospital. Expert evidence indicated that earlier extraction might have improved outcomes, though earlier extraction would not have definitively prevented death. The emergency response system functioned appropriately. Road rescue personnel made reasonable decisions about extrication methods. Key lessons include the need for rapid transport of trauma patients to centres with transfusion capability and potential benefits of pre-hospital blood products, tourniquets, and improved communication between trauma specialists and paramedics in regional areas.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
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