Coroner's Finding: de-identified IM

37y · Female·sepsis due to necrotising fasciitis following abdominoplasty with liposuction

A 37-year-old woman died from sepsis due to necrotising fasciitis following abdominoplasty and liposuction. She was discharged on post-operative day 4 with severe pain, nausea, and vomiting, which were attributed to normal post-operative symptoms. Her GP telephone consultation the same day found no signs of infection. She deteriorated rapidly at home and presented to hospital in septic shock on post-operative day 5, dying despite aggressive treatment. Necrotising fasciitis is a rare post-surgical complication that progresses rapidly and is difficult to diagnose early, as skin changes may not be apparent initially. The coroner found no issues with the surgical decision, procedure performance, or discharge decision. Early recognition of necrotising fasciitis is critical for survival, but this case represents an unusual, rapidly progressive complication that was inherently difficult to diagnose at the time of discharge.