Inquest hears of woman's heart problems (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Inquest hears of Hampton woman's heart problems before her death at Kingston Hospital

11:20am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News

A Hampton woman with heart problems who was on blood thinning medication died after doctors tried to save her, an inquest heard.

Gail Wheeler, who died at Kingston Hospital on May 23 last year, had a history of heart problems, West London Coroner’s Court was told.

In his narrative verdict, the coroner, Sean Cummings, said Mrs Wheeler, 52, died from a combination of mitral valve diease – for which she was on medication – and blood in the lung cavity following a chest drain insertion she had when admitted to the intensive treatment unit at Kingston Hospital, suffering from shortness of breath.

Mr Cummings said: “Mrs Wheeler had a history of mitral valve disease for which she received a replacement in September 2011.

“Initially she had improved following the insertion but then became unwell.

“There was then insertion of a chest drain. Because of her atrial fibrillation and associated illnesses, she was having blood thinning medication.

“The combination of the blood thinning medication and the surgical procedure she unfortunately lost a lot of blood – about two litres, set against her pre existing severe cardio disease resulted in her death.”