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Wootton child died after tonsil operation
Inquest into death of Jessica Lesley-May Jones
A child from Wootton died from "unheard off' complications after having her tonsils out at Bedford Hospital.
On Wednesday an inquest heard how the parents of Jessica Lesley-May Jones, aged four, were advised that she should have the tonsillectomy operation after she had five bouts of tonsillitis in a year.
The operation, which was carried out by ear nose and throat consultant Mr Hoar, went well but while Jessica was being transferred to recovery she became ill and was struggling to breathe.
Mr Hoar said: "Jessica had gone into recovery and nothing abnormal had happened, it was a bolt from the blue when someone said that there were complications.
"This is the first and only tonsillectomy death that I have had in 20 years.
"I have asked my colleagues if they have had anything similar and they haven't, nor did they know anyone who had.
"I am forced to conclude that this is very rare."
Consultant anaesthetist Dr Susette Lua attempted to resuscitate Jessica but when she could no longer feel a pulse she called the hospital's cardiac arrest team.
While the team were changing the tracheal tubes in an attempt to start her breathing again a blood clot, which had been restricting Jessica's breathing, dislodged and was recovered by doctors, who had not considered that a blood clot was the cause of her complications.
Jessica sustained serious brain damage and was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London where she died on February 7, 2009.
In an independent review read out at the inquest Dr Adrian R Lloyd Thomas, from Great Ormond Street, said that he was satisfied that care of Jessica at Bedford Hospital was at a very high standard.
In recording a verdict of death by medical misadventure, Coroner David Morris said: "The blood clot was in a very rare and unheard of position and nobody could have anticipated it.
"Indeed there is no record of an event of its kind.
"Even with the benefit of hindsight it is clear that nothing different could have been done in these circumstances.
"I think it is quite clear that all the professionals did their very best."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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