AN UNHAPPY MISHAP Child's Death After Tonsils Operation.
An inquest was held by Mr. Neville Stafford at Hammersmith Coroner's Court on Thursday on Joyce Pamela Croke, aged five, daughter of Corporal Croke, R.A.S.C, and Mrs. Croke, living York road, Battersea. The child died in St.Stephen's Hospital, Fulham-road, on May 22, an operation for infected tonsils. The child's mother, Mrs. Lydia, Croke, said that a few months ago the school doctor advised the removal of deceased's tonsils. On May 21 she was admitted to St. Stephen's Hospital.
She was operated upon next day, and died, in the ward shortly afterwards. The coroner: Are you satisfied with the treatment at the hospital? Witness: I don't know. Turned Blue on Way Back to Ward Dr. Kenneth Waters, acting medical superintendent at St.Stephen's Hospital, said deceased's tonsils were infected and required removal. The operation took the form of a blood dissection of the tonsils and there was no undue hemorrhage. On the way, back to the ward deceased turned a little blue, but her breathing was normal. Shortly afterwards, in the ward, her breathing ceased.
Dr. Keith Simpson, pathologist, who made a postmortem, said the dissection of both tonsils had been completed without surgical miscarriage. Apparently, however, some blood had been inhaled into the air passages. At no stage had there been any excessive bleeding. Death was due to asphyxia from the inhalation of blood after a tonsils operation. The coroner Is there any known method of preventing this oozing? Witness: There is bound to be little oozing after the operation.
Some momentary change of position may have caused deceased to inhale some blood.
Coroner Satisfied. The coroner said it was an unhappy mishap. He was satisfied that the operation was carried out skillfully and in a normal way. Deceased's father said he had no complaint to make. The coroner said the operation was necessary one.
