Finding into death of Carmel Vitalleri

53y · Female·Complications of post-natal encephalitis including epilepsy; sudden unexpected nocturnal death in epilepsy (SUDEP) likely due to breakthrough seizure

A 53-year-old woman with post-natal encephalitis, deaf, blind, and intellectually disabled, who had been in residential care since age 6, died suddenly at night in her community residential unit. She was found on the floor beside her bed with signs of sudden death. She had experienced a breakthrough seizure one week prior. Post-mortem examination showed she died from sudden unexpected nocturnal death in epilepsy (SUDEP), likely triggered by a terminal seizure occurring while asleep. Her anti-convulsant medication levels were therapeutic. There were no clinical failures documented, and her condition had been stable. The coroner found no evidence of inadequate care or preventable contributing factors. Surveillance for breakthrough seizures and seizure management appeared appropriate.