Old man's airway was blocked by gauze, inquest told
Breathing hole created in 73-year-old man's throat was covered after surgery; nurse thought he could breathe through his nose, inquest told
A piece of gauze the size of a pocket tissue was found in the bronchial tubes of a 73-year-old man following surgery for throat cancer, an inquest heard yesterday.
Wang Keng-kao died in Kowloon Hospital on November 14, 2011, after he was transferred there following cancer surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in June.
Wang, who was born in Fujian province, received infirmary services at Kowloon Hospital after his surgery.
At Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a hole 2cm in diameter was made in his trachea to allow him to breathe after the surgery.
The hospital's pathologist, Dr Cheuk Wah, told the Coroner's Court yesterday that a 252 sq cm piece of gauze was found blocking Wang's bronchi during the autopsy. Cheuk said the blockage could lead to death within a few minutes.
Wang's son, Brian Wang Ping-wan, also told the inquest that when he went to the hospital on November 6, he discovered the opening in his father's neck was covered by a piece of gauze that was secured with tape on all four sides.
But Queen Elizabeth Hospital's consultant surgeon, Dr Donald Tang Lap-chiu, said in court yesterday that the hole should not have been covered, as it was the only channel through which Wang could breathe.