Tanner, Marjorie Joyce

Female·Coronary atherosclerosis with ischaemic small bowel and Alzheimer's disease

Marjorie Joyce Tanner, an elderly woman with Alzheimer's disease, presented to Maryborough Hospital with a three-day history of abdominal pain, distension, and vomiting. Initially diagnosed with simple constipation and treated with enema and laxatives, she was discharged then readmitted when symptoms persisted. At Hervey Bay Hospital, bowel obstruction was confirmed. Due to elevated lactate on arterial blood gas and lack of available ventilated ICU bed at Hervey Bay, she was deemed too high-risk for local surgery and transferred by helicopter to Nambour General Hospital. During flight, she vomited, aspirated, and deteriorated. She died from a combination of coronary atherosclerosis and ischaemic bowel. The coroner found clinical decisions reasonable but identified systemic issues: inadequate initial investigation (no urgent CT scan arranged), insufficient medical staffing at Maryborough, limited ICU capacity at Hervey Bay, and use of undersized aircraft for transfer. Key lessons: earlier aggressive investigation for persistent obstruction symptoms, adequate ICU capacity planning for regional hospitals, and appropriate aeromedical retrieval resources.