PATIENT’S DEATH IN GORE HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 23840, 10 June 1939, Page 12

PATIENT’S DEATH IN GORE HOSPITAL

CORONER’S VERDICT AT INQUEST An inquest into the death of Frederick Ferdinand Trapski, jun., who died at the Gore Hospital yesterday morning, was held before the District Coroner (Mr A. T. Newman) at the Gore police station yesterday afternoon. A verdict, in accordance with the medical evidence, that death was due to surgical shock acting on the heart which was already damaged by toxic absorption from infected hydatid cysts on the right lung, was returned. The Coroner added that every care had been taken by the doctors acting at the operation. Frederick Ferdinand Trapski, sen., a farmer, of Pukerau, in giving evidence, said that Frederick Ferdinand Trapski, jun., was his son. He was a married man, aged 42 years, and resided with his wife at Pukerau, where he carried on farming. Witness last saw his son alive at 8 a.m. that day. His son had been in the Gore Public Hospital for the last three weeks. He had undergone an operation for hydatid disease on one of his lungs and was to have undergone another operation that morning. Witness had identified the body as that of his son. His son was a returned soldier and during the war had been wounded in the hand and nose. His condition that morning had been bright, but he appeared to be weak. Dr R. S. Stewart, of Gore, said that Frederick Ferdinand Trapski, jun., was admitted to the hospital on May 16, suffering from hydatid disease of the right lung. On May 22 a preliminary operation on the chest had been carried out. That morning a further operation was performed by the witness, assisted by Dr J. M. Watters, the anaesthetic being administered by Dr Jack. The type of anaesthetic used was Avertin, followed by gas and oxygen, these anaesthetics being used by the instructions of witness, as he considered them to be the most suitable for the case. The operation began at about 9.20 a.m., one infected hydatid cyst being removed about 10.10 a.m. CONDITION CRITICAL The witness was proceeding to remove a second cyst when he was informed that the patient’s condition had become suddenly critical. Up to this stage the patient’s condition had been satisfactory. The witness ceased operating and proceeded to carry out artificial respiration, Dr Jack at the same time carrying out artificial respiration by means of oxygen administered by the gas machine. A heart stimulant was also injected into the heart muscle and arm, but to no avail. Death occurred at 10.30 a.m. In the opinion of the witness, death was caused by surgical shock acting on the heart already damaged by toxic absorption from infected hydatid cysts on the right lung. The case was an extremely serious one and operation gave the only chance of saying the patient’s life. Dr D. M. Jack, of the Gore Public Hospital, said that he had examined the patient’s heart and lungs on June 8. Although he realized the condition of the patient was serious he considered him a fairly good subject for anaesthetic. That morning at 8.10 a.m. witness prepared the Avertin solution. The witness gave a detailed account of how the anaesthetic was prepared and administered, and stated that he had tested the solution satisfactorily. From time to time through the operation Dr Stewart had inquired about the patient’s condition. Each time witness had replied that his condition was satisfactory. Just after the first cyst had been removed the patient ceased breathing. Witness felt for the patient’s pulse in the neck, but it was absent. He informed Dr Stewart, who immediately ceased operating and began artificial respiration. The Coroner returned the verdict as stated.