TENNIS ELBOW OPERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 2 (Supplement)

TENNIS ELBOW OPERATION.

DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC. STOBY AT INQUEST. Evidence concerning (he effects or the anaesthetic nitrous oxide, commonly called " laughing gas," was given at an inquest at Marylebone, London, recently, on Mr.' Wilfred Stuart- Xuthall, aged 41, a proprietor of hotels and director of companies,, who died suddenly while undergoing ail operation for " tennis elbow " in a London nursing home. Mr. Xuthall was the father of Miss Betty Nuthaii, the girl lawn tennis champion. Dr. G. H. Hewer, anaesthetic specialist, of York Terrace, stated that he administered the anaesthetic., At first ho gave ether, and subsequently gas and oxygen. The patient died after the operation had been in progress about twenty minutes. Dr. B. M. Broute, Home Office pathologist, said he had made a post mortem examination. The body was perfectly healthv in every respect, the only abnormality being some foreign bodies ,in .he right elbow joint, which would give rise to the condition known as "tennis elbow." In his opinion, death w~as due to heart, failure, resulting from -a deficiency of oxygen in the blood caused by the action of the anaesthetic. He (.'id not think operative shock had anything to do with the tragedy. He had gone very carefully. Dr. Bronte continued, into the case, and had looked up the pronouncements of well-known authorities ou anaesthetics. Dr. Ship.viy, a well-known anaesthetist, had written that nitrous oxide and oxygen, although in theory the ideal anaesthetic for those suffering from shock,' was often the most dangerous of ail anaesthetics in actual practice. • i > The Coroner said he should think that " laughing gas " was used in a truth greater number of ■ cases than cny other anaesthetic. Dr. Bronte, in reply, said that xor minor operations, such as dentists performed, it was perfectly safe. It was when an attempt was made to give it for any length of time that danger arose. Mrs. Nut ha 11 asked the Coroner it any healthy person might, have died under the same circumstances its her husband. Mr. Oswald (the Coroner): Oh, ves, certainly. , He added that such eases occurred now and then* and he could only recoH verdict of "Death by misadventure.