Midhurst's Trina Duncan died after operation

Trina Duncan, 66, of Church Hill, Midhurst, died on February 27, 2015, at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

David Duncan, Trina’s husband, paid tribute to his wife, who he described as enthusiastic, generous and kind.

“She was the cornerstone of the family and loved nothing better than having her family around her.”

Trina, who had been unwell for 18 months before her death, was admitted for an operation on her abdomen on February 13.

Surgeon Guy Harris said he told Trina about the risk of the operation.

“I do a lot of bowel operations every year. Leaking is the primary concern of the operation,” he told the inquest.

“There were no technical difficulties.”

After a few days recovery, Trina’s condition deteriorated and she was readmitted for emergency surgery.

However, while recovering from the operation, a piece of anaesthetic equipment, called a cuff, ruptured and she inhaled fluid from her stomach into her lungs.

Assistant coroner for West Sussex Martin Milward said: “She made slow progress and it was thought she might be suffering from sepsis.”

Trina was admitted for another operation after it was confirmed she had sepsis, but became increasingly unwell and died in the early hours of February 27.

An inquest into her death was held at Edes House in Chichester on February 4.

Dr Ruth Tighe, who at the time was a senior anaesthetic trainee, gave evidence via web link from Sierra Leone.

She said it was very rare for a cuff to deflate, adding: “I’m really sorry, I have no explanation for why the cuff failed. The decision on the night was it would be discussed with the consultation the next day.”

Dr Christopher Smith, consultant, helped Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs St Richard’s Hospital, investigate Trina’s death.

He told the inquest Dr Tighe managed the incident with the cuff ‘as well as possible’.

Dr Smith added the subsequent investigation by senior staff into why the cuff ruptured was ‘not done well on this occasion’, but the trust has learnt from the incident.

Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Milward said: “Trina Duncan died as a result of complications including an anastomotic leak following elective surgery for diverticulitis disease and rupture of the cuff may have contributed.”

David Duncan said: “After a long and intense day for Trina’s family and friends listening to the many medical reports and opinions, we all left the inquest with a sense of closure as the Coroner and the medical staff had answered our concerns after many anxious months since Trina’s death a year ago.

“Trina’s family are extremely grateful for the wonderful support they have received from so many friends.”

Dr George Findlay, medical director at Western Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Any death is deeply upsetting and we extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mrs Duncan.

“Sadly, all surgery carries risks and we hope the inquest provided an explanation to help them understand how she died.”

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