This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-30104691

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Unfit' kidney transplant deaths inquest conclusion due Doctors confident over organ donation meningitis risk
(about 5 hours later)
An inquest into the deaths of two kidney patients who received organs other hospitals rejected as "unfit" is expected to conclude on Wednesday. A surgeon told an inquest into the deaths of two transplant patients that doctors were confident the donor's meningitis would not be transmitted.
Robert Stuart, 67, of Cardiff, and Darren Hughes, 42, of Bridgend, received them from a donor who had meningitis-causing parasitic worms. Robert Stuart, 67, from Cardiff, and Darren Hughes, 42, of Bridgend, died after being given kidneys infected with meningitis-causing parasitic worms.
Cardiff Coroner's Court heard doctors knew the alcoholic donor had died from meningitis. Doctors knew the donor had died from meningitis before accepting the organs.
The consultant said, with hindsight, he would like specialist advice to be sought in difficult cases.
The transplants took place at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales last year.The transplants took place at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales last year.
Post mortem examinations revealed both men had the deadly parasitic worm halicephalobus in their bodies after their transplants. Argiris Asderakis, consultant transplant surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales, told Cardiff Coroner's Court that the 39-year-old donor, who was an alcoholic, had undergone a five-day treatment of antibiotics prior to his death.
The court heard the donor was an alcoholic who was admitted to hospital on 21 November where he was found to be suffering from meningitis and septicaemia. He said: "It was most likely it [the cause of the meningitis] would be covered by the treatment so transmission would not take place."
Tests found no bacteria but he died on 29 November and the cause of death was given as meningoencephalitis - a form of meningitis. The inquest heard he had made a decision on the suitability of the organ based on the donor's medical history and information provided by his partner to NHS Blood and Transplant.
Pathologist Fouad Alchami said the primary cause of death for both Mr Hughes and Mr Stuart was meningoencephalitis caused by the presence of the worms. He told Cardiff Coroner's Court: "In hindsight, in cases of great difficulty, we should try to find the most expert advice on the night."
This was first known case of human-to-human infection and the first case in the UK, the inquest heard. Mr Asderakis spoke with Dawn Chapman, a specialist transplant nurse, and said he felt confident making an informed decision that the transplants could go ahead.
There have only been five known cases like this worldwide in humans - all of which proved fatal. Mr Asderakis told the inquest that even though the kidneys showed signs of dysfunction, this was not uncommon and once transplanted, he would expect the organ to recover and perform normally.
Brain infection The inquest heard that Mr Hughes was not eligible to receive 90% of organs available as he had anti-bodies in his blood which ruled out nine out of 10 potential donors in the UK.
Mr Hughes's family said it was not told the kidney could be infected before the transplant, and they were only informed of the donor's condition a month after Mr Hughes died in December 2013. He was waiting for his third transplant and Mr Asderakis said studies show 12% of people waiting for their second or third transplant died within three to five years.
Mr Hughes' father Ian said he would not have signed the consent form for his disabled son if he had known the organ had come from an alcoholic. Mr Stuart was prioritised for a transplant because of his age.
He added the family was informed the donor's organs had been rejected by several other hospitals as they were deemed "unfit for transplant". Earlier, the court heard organs from a person with meningitis could still be offered for transplant.
Mr Hughes rejected a suggestion that the surgeon had told the family the donor had a brain infection which was low risk, before his son had the transplant. Anthony Clarkson from NHS Blood and Transplant said organ donors' families are asked about their health and lifestyle history.
Mr Stuart's wife Judith said her husband would have also refused the transplant had he known of the brain infection suffered by the donor. He said organs from a person who died from meningitis with an unknown cause would be offered for transplant.
Halicephalobus parasite
'Opinion'
When asked by assistant coroner Christoper Woolley if organs from a patient with meningitis with a known cause are still offered for transplant, he said: "Not that I'm aware of."
The partner of the kidney donor had been interviewed when he died, and his liver, heart and lungs were all declined for donation due to his medical history.
The inquest was told the donor had a "significant alcohol history" with previous hospital admissions for jaundice.
Mr Clarkson said the team at Cardiff were aware that the donor's kidneys had been rejected by five other centres before being offered to them.
He said a hospital's decision whether or not to accept an organ is "made on the facts available to them, not on other people's decision to accept or decline".
The inquest heard there were "a range of reasons" other transplant centres declined the kidneys, including poor function and the cause of death.
The central transplant team was not able to contact the donor's GP as it was the early hours on a weekend, but he said this in itself was not a reason not to offer an organ for transplant.
The fact that other hospitals rejected the organs was "no more than evidence of another surgeon's opinion".
On Tuesday, the court heard post-mortem examinations revealed both men had the deadly parasitic worm halicephalobus in their bodies after their transplants.
Pathologist Fouad Alchami said the primary cause of death for both Mr Hughes and Mr Stuart was meningoencephalitis - a form of meningitis - caused by the presence of the worms.