Inquests into the death of Luke WOOD

35y · Male·intraperitoneal haemorrhage from an anastomotic leak from a transplanted renal artery

Luke Wood, a 35-year-old kidney transplant recipient, died 11 days post-transplant from intraperitoneal haemorrhage due to anastomotic leak from the transplanted renal artery. While post-operative inpatient care and initial post-discharge outpatient monitoring were deemed adequate, the expert assessment identified missed opportunities in the Emergency Department on the day of death. Consultant involvement was delayed for 1.5-2 hours after admission despite the transplant team's availability; no senior consultant personally examined Luke or actively pursued critical CT scan results. Although early senior involvement might not have changed the ultimate outcome, the case highlights the importance of clear command structure, senior clinician engagement from the outset, and timely access to medical records during emergency care.