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Mayo General Hospital has accepted responsibility for the death of an 82-year-old woman
Hospital admits responsibility for woman’s death

Death due to medical accident after patient’s womb perforated during surgical procedure

Anton McNulty

MAYO General Hospital has accepted responsibility for the death of an 82-year-old woman who died after she received a perforated uterus during surgery to remove a suspected cancerous growth.
Mrs Margaret Convey of Cloonaghboy, Swinford and a resident of the St Anne’s Nursing Home, Charlestown, died on November 24, 2006, three days after having a hysteroscopy. The day after the procedure, Mrs Convey complained of abdominal pain and a subsequent laparotomy discovered a 10cm segment of perforated small bowel, but despite efforts to repair it, she never regained consciousness.
At the inquest into her death yesterday (Monday), it was revealed that Dr Darach Corcoran, Consultant Obstetrician, admitted to the family of Mrs Convey that the hospital was responsible for her death and a verdict of death due to a medical accident was recorded.
Dr Uchenna Umeadi, who at the time was Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Mayo General Hospital and performed the hysteroscopy, said he had seen Mrs Convey on November 6, 2006 and she complained of bleeding and lower abdominal pain.
On November 21, he performed the hysteroscopy to examine and dilate the womb, but experienced difficulties and resistance. Using the scope, he discovered an abnormal area and an endometrial polyp. He said using the polyp forceps he felt a resistant or content, which was brought out onto a swab.
On his post-op check, Mrs Convey complained to Dr Umeadi of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, but after examination he reassured her the symptoms may be related to the general anaesthetic. However, at 8.30am the following day, he was informed that her condition had deteriorated and she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit because of septicaemic shock.
In his evidence at the inquest, Dr Umeadi said that since 2000 he had performed between 20 and 30 procedures a year and never had any difficulty until this incident took place.
Dr Darach Corcoran explained that Mrs Convey had post-menopausal bleeding and a hysteroscopy and diagnostic curettage were arranged to exclude any malignant cause for the bleeding. He said this was well within Dr Umeadi’s ‘confidence’.
He said following the operation he was told she was in the ICU and there was a question of a possible perforation of the bowel. He phoned Mrs Convey’s son Brian, to get permission for a laparotomy.
He explained there was a very high risk of mortality associated with the surgery because of the patient’s age. He later discovered that the histology of the specimens taken at the hysteroscopy included a full thickness of the bowel wall, confirming perforation.
Mr Ronan Waldron, who performed the laparotomy, said it disclosed a 10cm segment of perforated small bowel at three sides. There was also a 3cm perforation at the body of the uterus.
He said he repaired the uterine perforation and the bowel segment was resected, but Mrs Convey passed away the following day.
Mr Fadel Bennani, Consultant Pathologist, said that in his opinion the death was due to septic shock as a result of the peritonitis.
Mr Brian Convey said he was told there was a lot of damage done to his mother’s womb and bowel, and she never regained consciousness and died at 5.30am on November 24. He said before the procedures he felt that, for a woman of 82 years, she was in good health.
Mr John O’Dwyer, Coroner for South Mayo, sympathised with the family of Mrs Convey and said it was some comfort for the family that Dr Umeadi had been open and frank and told the truth immediately.
Sympathy was also expressed to the family by Mr John Jordan BL, for the HSE, Inspector Mick Murray and Mr Joe Geraghty, foreman of the jury. 

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