Finding into death of Gayle Dianne Ireland
Deceased
Gayle Dianne Ireland
Demographics
63y, female
Coroner
State Coroner Judge John Cain
Date of death
2024-01-30
Finding date
2024-08-14
Cause of death
Sepsis with multiorgan failure in the setting of limb cellulitis complicating a leg laceration
AI-generated summary
A 63-year-old woman with multiple comorbidities (obesity, chronic lung disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, prior cerebrovascular disease with hemiparesis) sustained a 4cm laceration to her right shin from a motorised wheelchair accident at her supported NDIS accommodation on 20 January 2024. Initial ED assessment and treatment appeared inadequate; she was discharged with advice to see her GP in one week. She returned on 24 January 2024 hypoxic and hypotensive with sepsis, requiring ICU admission. Despite treatment with antibiotics and supportive care, she deteriorated from sepsis with multiorgan failure secondary to limb cellulitis and died on 30 January 2024. Key clinical lesson: prompt recognition and aggressive early management of wound infections in vulnerable patients with significant comorbidities is critical; delayed diagnosis of sepsis contributed to her death.
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Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- WHO Class III obesity
- chronic lung disease
- obstructive sleep apnoea
- hemiparesis due to prior cerebrovascular disease
- delayed recognition of wound infection
- inadequate initial wound assessment and follow-up
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