HEART FAILURE DEATH OF V. P. BOOT

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1947, Page 6

HEART FAILURE DEATH OF V. P. BOOT

EFFORTS TO SAVE PATIENT (P.A.) Gisborne, Jan. 29. At the resumed inquest into the death of Vernon Patrick Boot, the prominent New Zealand athlete, the coroner (Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M.) returned a verdict that death was due to heart failure. Dr. S. B. L. Bowker said that Mr. Boot was examined clinically prior to the dental operation, as he said he was resistant to chloroform. An examination of the heart and lungs showed no abnormality. Just after the induction stage was completed the witness changed to pure ether, and the patient showed very sudden signs of collapse. The anaesthetic was immediately stopped and artificial respiration started. Cardiac and respiratory stimulants were given, also oxygen. Later witness injected adrenalin into the heart and carried out cardiac massage. Another consultant was called in, and it was decided that further efforts were useless.

“When I decided to use oxygen on the patient the two oxygen cylinders in the theatre were found to be defective, owing to the key not fitting the tap, which was worn." said Dr. Bowker. “Nothing else could be found which would turn the tap. The Cook Hospital was telephoned and requested to send an oxygen cylinder to the hospital immediately. The cylinder arrived very soon after and was utilised.” Dr. Fritz Kahlenberg said that when he arrived at the hospital Dr. Bowker was massaging the patient's heart. In his opinion the patient was dead. OXYGEN CYLINDERS ‘‘l then inspected the oxygen cylinders in the theatre. I found one sealed and the other one, the lock of which I was able to free, was full of oxygen and ready for use. These two cylinders are ones that are always in the hospital theatre. They belong to me, but would be used in any case of emergency. The cylinder which came from the Cook Hospital was the one used on the patient." Sister L. S. Ballantyne. in charge of the hospital, corroborated Dr. Bowker's evidence relating to the restorative measures taken.

Dr. C. W. Isaac, who conducted the post-mortem examination, said all the organs of the body were healthy, but the heart muscle showed that death was caused by syncope, in hts opinion caused ' by a toxic effect of the brain. As a result of TITO' examination th? witness said he would have had no hesitation in giving an anaesthetic to Mr. Boot on January 15.