Related Articles
Nicholas Gill, 54, a programme manager from Westcroft, Milton Keynes, died in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington last August after suffering a cardiac arrest following elective aortic valve surgery.
He experienced a tight aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve opening in the heart, likely as a result of his weight and lifestyle as he had a BMI of 39 and was an ex-smoker, the court was told.
READ MORE: Oxford bus crash: Scaffolding smashes through top windows
The inquest heard Mr Gill required surgery and was given a grade two priority by staff at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust, one below the highest priority, and was therefore recommended for surgery within four weeks.
However, due to his appointed surgeon’s NHS waiting list, Mr Gill did not undergo the surgery until seven months later when consultant cardiovascular surgeon Nicholas Walcot was able to complete the procedure.
Mr Walcot gave evidence at the inquest, and said that despite added complications in the surgery due to Mr Gill’s weight and other medical conditions it went well.
However, on the evening of August 1, he suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest, was transferred to the intensive care unit and underwent emergency drainage surgery to relieve pressure on his heart.
READ MORE: Duo sustain injuries following incident with Royal Mail van
The inquest heard from a senior cardiothoracic consultant, Dr James Stradling.
He said although it was not clear a the time of death the likely cause of the episode was dysrhythmia, in which his heart was beating to slowly, caused by heart failure due to damage done by the aortic stenosis before the operation.
🚨Subscribe to the Oxford Mail online for just £3 for three months or 50 per cent off annually in this flash sale offer 🗞️
– Unlimited access to articles and fewer ads
– Reader rewards scheme and puzzles
-Digital edition of newspaper and ad-free apphttps://t.co/aaw7jMtuoG— Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) January 15, 2025
Mr Gill was resuscitated but did not regain consciousness, and afterwards a CT scan showed no brain activity life support was withdrawn, the inquest was told.
Mr Stradling added that the unexpected nature of the cardiac arrest and specific circumstances relating to the patients health made the resuscitation difficult, and said: “I do not think reliably I or any other consultant could, in those circumstances, have done any better.”
READ MORE: Power cut near Wallingford affects more than 300 homes
He also told the court: “I would like to extend my condolences to Mrs Gill and the wider family and repeat again that we were all devastated by what happened to Nick.”
Area coroner Nicholas Graham gave a narrative conclusion as he explained it was better suited to the medical complexities of the case.
He gave a medical cause of death of hypoxic brain injury due to cardiac arrest caused by aortic valve stenosis following an operation on July 16.
Help support trusted local news
Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/
As a digital subscriber you will get:
-
Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website
-
Advert-light access
-
Reader rewards
-
Full access to our app
