A man who underwent a routine operation to remove a substantial tumour from his large intestine died from septicaemia due to the malfunction of a surgical instrument, an inquest heard yesterday.
Anthony O'Reilly (50), Ballyfallon, Athboy, Co Meath, died at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, on July 13th last year, three days after a routine operation to remove a large tumour from his rectum, Dublin County Coroner's Court heard.
Eadhbhard Mulligan, the consultant surgeon who carried out the operation, told the court yesterday that he believed there was a problem with one of the staplers he used in the course of the operation.
Mr Mulligan used two stapling instruments in the course of the operation on July 10th, 2006, to join up two sections of Mr O'Reilly's bowel, following the removal of the tumour. However, a leak developed after the operation, which caused a virulent infection.
Mr Mulligan said he believed the problem was with a stapling device manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, but he added this was conjecture. He told the inquest he had used the other stapling device, a CEEA 31 purse string instrument, for 10 years and had experienced no problems with it.
The staple gun was withdrawn immediately from the hospital and the matter was reported to Johnson & Johnson and the Irish Medicines Board, which was currently investigating the matter.
Peter Schroer, director of quality systems and regulatory affairs at Johnson & Johnson, told the court this was the second case where a death was reported to the company in relation to the device. He said it had carried out tests on the product, but did not find any problem with it.
"There seems to have been a malfunction of a surgical instrument," coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty told the court.
He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.