OPEKATION AT SEA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 172, 21 June 1934, Page 3

OPEKATION AT SEA

SWAB FOUND IN BODY

REFERENCE AT INQUEST

Per Pleas Association. AUCKLAND, June 20. Tlic post-mortem disclosure of a swab in the body of deceased was reported at an inquest held by Mr F. iv. Hunt, S.M., into the death of John Gillies, aged 26, single, an assistant-steward on the Monowai, who underwent an operation for appendicitis on the vessel on June 9, and who died in the Auckland hospital on June 15. At the opening of the inquest, MiGray, who represented the ship’s doctor and the Union Company, asked that the proceedings bo taken in camera, as he considered no good purpose could bo gained by publicity, but tho Coroner declined to agree. Robert James Boyd said ho was ship’s surgeon on the Monowai. On June 9 deceased was suffering from acute peritonitis, arising from chronic appendicitis, and was operated on early in the afternoon. The anaesthetic, which was at first clilorpfom and later ether, was administered by the chief officer, Thomas William White, and a steward was assisting generally. The patient was in a very bad condition. “During the operation the patient appeared to be sinking, and I had to leave him to get a hypodermic charged with adrenalin,” witness continued. “He seemed to recover and so 1 told the anaesthetist to continue with the anaesthetic.

“I have since heard that a swab was found in deceased. If that was so, it must have slipped in while 1 was"getting the hypodermic, because I laid the swab over the wound while I went to get it. The swab would be made of lint and might be 2Jin by 3jin, or even 3in by sin. 1 do not know how many swabs I used. “The steward, who had assisted at three previous similar operations, prepared them. I asked the steward how many swabs there were, but he said lie did not know, and we could not wait, as the patient was in such a bad condition. The patient at no time made any real progress toward recovery, and I did not expect him to recover.”

Witness added that the inflammatory condition of the peritoneum was too widespread. The presence of the swab would have don'e him no immediate harm. Later on, if lie had recovered from the serious condition brought about by the peritonitis, the swab might have made its presence apparent and would-tlien have been removed. Dr Fowler, assistant pathologist at the Auckland hospital, who conducted tlie post-mbrtem examination, detailed the discovery of the swab. He said the cause of death was acute generalised peritonitis and paralytic ileus. “I would say that all the swab might do would be to retard his ultimate recovery,. but tliat it had nothing to do with his actual death,” witness said. “I think lie would have died in any ease. If the peritonitis had been cleared up the swab would have been discovered.”

“I think it lias been made perfectly clear lli'at the misadventure with the; swab in no way caused the death of this unfortunate man,” said Mr Hunt in returning a verdict that death was due to acute general peritonitis and paralytic ileus. “He was in a parlous condition when operated on and there was small chance of his recovery.” Mr Hunt said he sympathised with the doctor in the matter; lie had had to carry out a difficult operation at a minute’s notice without skilled assistance.