Burntwood man sent home from hospital early dies
A factory worker who was sent home from hospital earlier than he should have been died eight days later, an inquest heard.
Peter Middleton, of Burntwood, died after being discharged following a biopsy aimed at determining the cause of a long-term condition that saw him suffer from shortness of breath.
The 59-year-old grandfather-of-three had the operation at the University of North Staffordshire and was released after one day. But Cannock Coroner's Court heard from surgeon Dr Christopher Satur, who carried out the operation, that normally patients stayed in hospital for three to four days.
Just eight days after undergoing the surgery, Mr Middleton died at Stafford Hospital on February 4, 2012, having been admitted to its A&E department on February 1 with newly-formed shadowing on his left lung and a leak in his right lung, causing a cavity of air, the court heard.
Dr Satur said he had warned his patient their was a one-to-three per cent risk of death but Mr Middleton still decided to go ahead with the operation.
"I don't undertake biopsies lightly because of the associated risks," said Mr Satur. "When he was discharged, he appeared fine. The X-ray was satisfactory and showed no air locks around the lungs. The leak may have occurred during surgery, but may also be down to a decline in lung function."
Dr Satur added that a 'gun' is used during biopsies, ensuring the lung cut into is sealed.
He also said he would normally keep a patient in hospital for three or four days after surgery to monitor their progress, 'whether they look well or not'.
"I wouldn't have recommended discharge," added Dr Satur.
But the court was not told who made the decision to discharge Mr Middleton or why.
Mr Middleton's widow Janet, of Dursley Road, Burntwood, said her husband underwent the surgery with the aim of establishing whether working with cement and hence being exposed to dust had caused his condition.
Mr Middleton had worked at both Lichfield and Swandlincote bases of Bison Manufacturing Ltd, having begun at the firm at the age of 16. He spent 28 years as a cement mixer and the rest of his working years as a factory worker in Lichfield.
The test was, however, inconclusive as to the cause of Mr Middleton's disease and South Staffordshire Coroner Mr Haigh said he could establish no direct link between exposure to dust and Mr Middleton's death.
"This was a severe long-term condition, but there is likely to have been a link between the biopsy and his death," said Mr Haigh.
"Mr Middleton died as a result of his long-term condition and the biopsy. It was a complication of the medical treatment."
