219 results
58y · Male·complications of large bowel pseudo-obstruction
Paul Desmond Smith, aged 58, died from complications of large bowel pseudo-obstruction following discharge from hospital after inadequate assessment. He had presented to the ED with lower abdominal pain and severe faecal…
64y · Male·Peritonitis, due to or as a consequence of a ruptured gallbladder, due to or as …
Dennis Childs, a 64-year-old Indigenous man serving a life sentence, died from peritonitis secondary to a ruptured gallbladder. On 8 December 2018, he presented with abdominal pain at the correctional centre but refused …
65y · Female·decompensated liver failure
Ms Revell, a 65-year-old with Child Pugh Class C cirrhosis secondary to 20 years of heavy alcohol use and hepatitis C, was admitted following an intoxicated fall causing an olecranon fracture. Post-operatively, she devel…
71y · Male·sepsis caused by mediastinal empyema (abscess) which complicated perforation of …
Terence Carroll, 71, died from sepsis and mediastinal empyema following oesophageal perforation during rigid oesophagoscopy for stricture dilation. Critical failures included: CT scan showing suspicious oesophageal thick…
74y · Male·Intra-abdominal haemorrhage complicating elective umbilical hernia repair
A 74-year-old man with significant cardiac history (atrial fibrillation, dilated cardiomyopathy, pacemaker) underwent elective umbilical hernia repair. Intraoperatively, unexpected ascites was discovered and partially dr…
66y · Male·Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
A 66-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with left-sided abdominal pain on 14 July 2021. After waiting over 6 hours in a crowded ED with restricted access to treatment spaces, he left without medical asses…
62y · Female·Hypovolaemic and cardiogenic shock (hysterectomy) in the context of cardiomegaly…
A 62-year-old woman with significant comorbidities (cirrhosis, cardiomegaly, thrombocytopenia, chronic kidney disease, COPD) died from hypovolaemic and cardiogenic shock during elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy fo…
85y · Male·Incised wounds to the wrist
An 85-year-old man with myelodysplasia and severe hip pain from an ischiorectal abscess died from incised wrist wounds sustained in a nursing home while in palliative care. He had expressed wishes to die, discussed eutha…
75y · Female·Complications including acute pancreatitis and refractory intra-abdominal sepsis…
Lee Milcherdy, 75, died from complications including acute pancreatitis and refractory intra-abdominal sepsis following an unnecessary ERCP procedure. An MRCP scan on 12 October 2018 showed no gallstone, making the plann…
57y · Male·Sepsis from ischemic bowel due to superior mesenteric artery thrombus
Trevor Peterson, a 57-year-old with chronic gut ischemia, underwent mesenteric artery stenting in February 2020. Discharge instructions emphasising dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) were not clearly communicated to the va…
54y · Male·Bowel ischaemia resulting from acute thrombosis of superior mesenteric artery an…
Anthony Barrett died from bowel ischaemia caused by acute thrombosis of his superior mesenteric artery and coeliac artery stents post-operatively. He had undergone left total knee replacement surgery at Fairfield Hospita…
77y · Female·Haemoperitoneum following cholecystectomy
A 77-year-old woman died from haemoperitoneum (intra-abdominal bleeding) three days after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Bleeding from the left inferior epigastric artery was a recognised surgical complication bu…
85y · Female·Staphylococcus bacteremia complicating multiple injuries sustained in a motor ve…
An 85-year-old woman sustained multiple serious injuries (bilateral rib and pelvic fractures, thoracic spine fractures) in a motor vehicle collision on 20 June 2018. She was treated with ICU admission, induced coma, and …
77y · Male·shock due to bowel ischaemia following massive blood loss due to bleeding of the…
Anthony George Bennett, a 77-year-old man with significant comorbidities including ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease, and end-stage kidney disease, died from shock due to bowel isc…
76y · Female·Undetermined (natural causes)
HJ, a 76-year-old woman with chronic psychotic disorder and paranoid delusions, presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and small bowel obstruction. Imaging revealed bilateral adnexal masses. Due to her lack of insight …
63y · Male·metastatic rectal carcinoma
Jeremy Scott, a 63-year-old prisoner, died from metastatic rectal carcinoma on 3 July 2017. From 2015 onwards, he reported rectal and anal symptoms including pain, bleeding, and palpable masses, which were repeatedly att…
67y · Male·acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage complicating peptic ulcer of the duodenum wit…
A 67-year-old man died from acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage from a duodenal ulcer following complex post-operative complications from laparoscopic Hartmann's procedure for diverticulitis. Key clinical lessons: (1) Ear…
Female·multi-organ failure
Mrs M died from multi-organ failure following recurrent intra-abdominal sepsis and surgical complications after endoscopic duodenal perforation in June 2019. During resection of a duodenal adenoma, perforation occurred r…
56y · Male·Internal blood loss, complications arising from laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Barry Brown, a 56-year-old man, died from internal bleeding after laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to critical systemic failures in post-operative care and diagnosis. Following hypotension at 7:30pm, nursing staff failed…
72y · Male·Complications of subtotal colectomy for diffuse polyposis and invasive adenocarc…
Melvin Lynch, aged 72, died in custody at Prince of Wales Hospital on 9 December 2019, nine days after elective subtotal colectomy for bowel cancer. Post-operatively, he developed complications including pleural effusion…
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