Coroner's Finding: RAU Edward Morgan

77y · Male·aspiration pneumonia due to dysphagia on a background of dementia

Edward Morgan Rau, aged 77, died from aspiration pneumonia secondary to dysphagia in the context of dementia. He was admitted to hospital on 29 October 2014 after choking on food. A speech pathologist assessed him as having significant aspiration risk requiring hospital admission and intravenous fluids. He deteriorated with persistent chest congestion despite supportive care including suctioning, nebulisers and oxygen. He was found unresponsive on 31 October 2014 and died shortly after. The clinical course followed an appropriate pathway given his progressive dysphagia and aspiration risk. The coroner made no adverse findings regarding clinical management. This case illustrates the inevitable complications of advanced dementia with dysphagia and the challenges of preventing aspiration in this population despite appropriate precautions and speech pathology input.