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Baby death inquest: Rohan Rhodes's ventilator 'removed too early' | Baby death inquest: Rohan Rhodes's ventilator 'removed too early' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A premature baby's ventilator was removed too soon by hospital staff, his parents told an inquest into his death. | A premature baby's ventilator was removed too soon by hospital staff, his parents told an inquest into his death. |
Rohan Rhodes from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, was born 14 weeks early at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, in 2012 and was transferred to St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, for surgery. | Rohan Rhodes from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, was born 14 weeks early at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, in 2012 and was transferred to St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, for surgery. |
Alex and Bronwyn Rhodes told the coroner's court near Bristol that Rohan's feeding tubes were inserted "aggressively" and caused him pain. | Alex and Bronwyn Rhodes told the coroner's court near Bristol that Rohan's feeding tubes were inserted "aggressively" and caused him pain. |
Their son died aged five weeks. | Their son died aged five weeks. |
Mrs Rhodes told the inquest at Flax Bourton she was initially delighted Rohan had been taken off the ventilator, but Mr Rhodes believed "something wasn't right" with the boy's care. | Mrs Rhodes told the inquest at Flax Bourton she was initially delighted Rohan had been taken off the ventilator, but Mr Rhodes believed "something wasn't right" with the boy's care. |
The couple said they were concerned a nurse did not wear gloves when handling Rohan's feeding tube and became worried a day later when he looked exhausted and his oxygen dependency had increased. | |
Mrs Rhodes said her son was a healthy and active baby, despite being premature, and had consistently put on weight after he was born. | |
Watching in 'horror' | |
A team of leading doctors had told the couple they had no plans to stop Rohan's ventilation during a handover meeting the day after he was admitted. | |
But he was later removed from the machine and placed on a breathing mask. | |
His conditioned worsened and his heart rate began to fall, the inquest heard. | |
Mrs Rhodes said: "We were terrified and were watching all this in horror. He was so pale and lifeless during this time, we were terrified we were losing him." | |
Doctors apologised and he was put back on the machine, but he never recovered and was unable to have surgery he needed to repair an open heart duct. | |
Recalling her son's final moments, Mrs Rhodes wept: "I asked them to stop compressions, but they were not able to remove all the lines so I couldn't hold him. | |
"He died in his incubator, swollen beyond belief." | "He died in his incubator, swollen beyond belief." |
A pathologist told the inquest he found multiple perforations to Rohan's bowel and said the likely cause of death was acute peritonitis and pneumonia. | A pathologist told the inquest he found multiple perforations to Rohan's bowel and said the likely cause of death was acute peritonitis and pneumonia. |
The hospital is part of the same trust as Bristol Children's Hospital, which is the subject of a new investigation into the deaths of several children over the past three years. | The hospital is part of the same trust as Bristol Children's Hospital, which is the subject of a new investigation into the deaths of several children over the past three years. |
Robert Woolley, chief executive of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Rhodes family for the loss of their son, Rohan. | Robert Woolley, chief executive of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Rhodes family for the loss of their son, Rohan. |
"The coroner will conduct a thorough and independent inquiry into the death of this child and we are committed to working with her to provide all the information she needs to do this. | "The coroner will conduct a thorough and independent inquiry into the death of this child and we are committed to working with her to provide all the information she needs to do this. |
"It would not be appropriate for us to comment further until the inquest has concluded." | "It would not be appropriate for us to comment further until the inquest has concluded." |
The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
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