Heart Op Doctor's Praise for Nurses
Posted on: Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 12:00 CST
By Patrice John
A BIRMINGHAM surgeon who operated on a four-month-old boy who later died at Birmingham Children's Hospital today commended his nursing team.
Dr William James Brawn told Birmingham Coroner's court that he operated on Thomas Smith, who had two holes in his heart, in December 2004.
Thomas, who had Down's Syndrome, died at the hospital after five days in intensive care.
The inquest heard that during this time he was placed on a ventilator machine but it failed and he then had a cardiac arrest.
Thomas's mum Lisa Weale, aged 35, of Northfield, yesterday told the court that when Thomas was later placed on a heart/lung bypass machine it was turned on in reverse and it pumped oxygenated blood into his body. He later died.
Dr Brawn told the court: "I feel as the senior surgeon that I must say how much respect I have for the family.
"Nothing can take away from the loss of a child and I have the greatest respect for them.
"But I also have great respect for the staff I work with. They work in extremely stressful situations.
"I would not work with another team of staff than the one I work with."
The doctor told the court that he felt Thomas, who died on December 15, 2004, had been referred for surgery at the right time.
He also felt that Thomas was doing well after surgery, but that cardiac arrest could happen at any time.
"There was an improvement in his condition overnight," he said.
"I had received a call on the following morning saying he was okay. My thoughts were that he would have continued to be okay but sometimes there can be a sudden arrest.
"He needed care and attention." Thomas was born on August 7, 2004, at Birmingham Women's Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with Down's Syndrome and detected he had a heart defect.
He was referred to the Children's Hospital for an operation on December 10, 2004. After a five-hour operation he was put into intensive care.
(Proceeding)
Source: Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK)
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