Finding into death of Krizan Vuksan

75y · Male·Ischaemic heart disease secondary to coronary artery atherosclerosis; acute myocardial infarction

Krizan Vuksan, a 75-year-old man with chronic schizophrenia, hypertension, and cardiac risk factors, died from acute myocardial infarction secondary to ischaemic heart disease while residing in a mental health aged care facility. He presented with chest pain and fever five days before death; a lower respiratory tract infection was diagnosed and treated with antibiotics. The coroner found no issues with health management that impacted the cause of death. However, concerns were raised about discharge planning from inpatient psychiatric care being incomplete and precipitous, causing distress requiring intramuscular sedation. The autopsy confirmed significant natural coronary artery disease. Medical investigation confirmed appropriate respiratory infection management. Clinicians should remain alert to cardiac presentations in elderly patients with psychiatric illness, particularly during acute distress or transitions of care.