DEATH UNDER ANESTHETIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19251, 15 August 1924, Page 9

DEATH UNDER ANESTHETIC

INQUEST AT HOSPITAL. VERDICT OF HEART FAILURE. An inquest concerning' the death of a child named Vernon Arthur Matchett, who died in the Hospital on Wednesday night, was held by Mr J, R. Bartholomew, S.M-, sitting as Coroner, at the Hospital yesterday afternoon. The child had been suffering from ear trouble, and an operation was deemed necessary. This was performed, and the patient died while under an amcsthotic, administered in connection with the operation. Sergeant M’Carthy represented the police. 1 Joseph Vernon Matchett. father of the child, who resided at Kaitangata, stated that deceased was 19 months of ago. Ino child ha-d been ill for about a week before being admitted to the Hospital, and had been attended by Dr Rcpkie, who told Mrs Matchett to syringe tne child’s ear out. Dr Reekie ordered the boy 7 3 removal to the Hospital. Mrs Matchett brought the child to the Hospital. Witness had lost two children preciously from a similar complaint. Dr Bathgate stated that she was honorary aural surgeon at the HospitaL She law the child at 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon. It was very seriously ill. There was a Bwelling at the back of the ear. The temperature was 101. The discharge from the ear clearly showed a mastoid. Witness recognised that it was a grave risk, but if the operation had not taken place the child would have died in a few weeks. The position was explained to the mother and the operation took place at a quarter past four. Ether was administered by Dr Champtaloup. Dr Iverach was assisting witness. There was a little difficulty at first, but the child took the anaesthetic quite well. When the operation was almost completed the breathing became much slower and finally stopped. Artificial respiration was resorted to and kept up for three-quarters of an hour, but without success. All the usual measures were used. Dr Speight came to assist with the artificial respiration. The cause of death was cardiac failure, due to the toxic state of the child. If the case had been seen earlier the operation might have been successful. There was a predisposition in some children to this complaint. Dr Champtaloup. house surgeon at the Hospital, said the first time she saw the child was in the operating theatre. It was evident the child was toxic. There was nothing to indicate that an amcsthotic would bo fatal. Ether was the anaesthetic used, and the child seemed to take it pretty well after the induction stage. Witness agreed with the evidence of Dr Bathgate After the first collapse of the child it rallied, and they thought they would bo able to carry on the operation, bub the child suddenly collapsed. There was always a danger where the condition was toxic. The longer the case was left the worse it would become.

I>r Iverach, house surgeon, said he saw tho child on admission on Wednesday morning Its general condition was not good. It was toxic and had sores on the body, and over the right ear. The pulse was 140. Witness examined tho child and informed Dr Bathgate, who examined tjio child in the afternoon, and an operation was decided on. Tho sister saw Mrs Matchett and reported to witness that permission had been given to administer the anaesthetic. Witness was present at the operation _ and agreed with tho evidence already given. Mrs Matchett had said the child’s ear had been running for three weeks. If it had been attended to sooner it would have been bettor.

The Coroner said he did not consider it necessary to order a post mortem examination, as he was quite satisfied with the position disclosed by tho evidence. The child had been in a toxic condition, and it w-as unfortunate that it had not been admitted to the Hospital at an earlier date, when the chance of an operation being successful would have been very much greater. At the time of the child’s admission to the Hospital very prompt steps had been taken for an immediate examination, and the aural specialist had been communicated with. An operation was an absolute necessity, and the sooner it was performed tho better The operation .was then carried out, but unfortunately the child collapsed. The proper steps had been taken in connection with the operation, and no doubt the result was due to tho condition of the child at tho time of admission. The verdict would bo that death was caused by heart failure, due to tho toxic condition of tho child, contributed to by an anaesthetic necessary for tho performance of the operation.