Man died after anaesthetic 'complications' at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital

Peter Quinn was about to undergo a procedure to remove a tumour from his colon at New Cross Hospital last October.

Prior to the procedure the 77-year-old, from Bamber Close, Bradmore, was due to be given pain killer bupivacaine by epidural, but during this process he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Despite an hour-long attempt to revive him, he died.

At his inquest at Smethwick Council House, the coroner's court was told that the medical cause of death was systemic adverse effects of bupivacaine after the drug got into his blood stream.

However pathologist Dr Yelin Hock said the conclusions was based on the balance of probability, as it is unknown how the drug came to be in his blood.

Dr Richard Morse is the consultant anaesthetist who administered the pain killer prior to the operation.

He told the court how he had to try three times before he was happy that he found the 'epidural space' into which drugs can be injected.

After carrying out the usual tests to ensure the tube had been inserted into the correct position, Dr Morse then administered a 'test level' of bupivacaine as an additional test to ensure the tube was correctly sited.

He said: "It's not uncommon when siting an epidural that you unintentionally site it where the spinal fluid is, which is much closer to the spinal cord.

"If you were to inject a large amount of anaesthetic into that space it could have effects.

"We administered a test dose that would be safe in the space where the spinal fluid is.

"The patient would normally experience a heaviness in the legs, a drop in blood pressure."

But around two minutes after the injection of the test dose Mr Quinn collapsed.

Dr Morse added: "It would not normally cause adverse effects, but effects you would recognise to inform your future dosage."

Under questioning from Black Country senior coroner Robin Balmain, Dr Morse said in large doses bupivacaine is known to be cardiotoxic and potentially neurotoxic, and has caused patients to become unwell after doses in the hundreds of milligrams.

Dr Morse administered only 15 milligrams in his test dose, and trace amounts were found in Mr Quinn's blood.

Mr Balmain said he had 'never seen anything like this' in his time as a coroner.

Giving a narrative verdict, he said: "Death was due to the known but very rare complications of anaesthetic given in the course of an elective surgical procedure."