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Kidney transplant surgeon apologises after patients died | Kidney transplant surgeon apologises after patients died |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A surgeon has apologised after carrying out a transplant which resulted in the deaths of two patients. | A surgeon has apologised after carrying out a transplant which resulted in the deaths of two patients. |
Argiris Asderakis told Cardiff Coroner's Court he was "terribly sorry" and wished he could "turn the clock back". | Argiris Asderakis told Cardiff Coroner's Court he was "terribly sorry" and wished he could "turn the clock back". |
Robert Stuart, 67, of Cardiff, and Darren Hughes, 42, of Bridgend, died after being given kidneys infected with meningitis-causing parasitic worms. | Robert Stuart, 67, of Cardiff, and Darren Hughes, 42, of Bridgend, died after being given kidneys infected with meningitis-causing parasitic worms. |
Doctors knew the donor had died from meningitis before accepting the organs. | Doctors knew the donor had died from meningitis before accepting the organs. |
Mr Asderakis told the inquest on Wednesday: "I'm terribly sorry for what happened, I wish I could turn the clock back in hindsight, but hindsight is a great thing for us all." | Mr Asderakis told the inquest on Wednesday: "I'm terribly sorry for what happened, I wish I could turn the clock back in hindsight, but hindsight is a great thing for us all." |
The consultant said he would now like specialist advice to be sought in difficult cases. | The consultant said he would now 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. |
Mr Asderakis said the 39-year-old alcoholic donor had undergone a five-day treatment of antibiotics before his death. | Mr Asderakis said the 39-year-old alcoholic donor had undergone a five-day treatment of antibiotics before his death. |
"It was most likely it [the cause of the meningitis] would be covered by the treatment so transmission would not take place," he said. | "It was most likely it [the cause of the meningitis] would be covered by the treatment so transmission would not take place," he said. |
He said his decision was based on the suitability of the organ based on the donor's medical history and information provided by his partner to NHS Blood and Transplant. | He said his decision was based on the suitability of the organ based on the donor's medical history and information provided by his partner to NHS Blood and Transplant. |
"In hindsight, in cases of great difficulty, we should try to find the most expert advice on the night," said Mr Asderakis. | "In hindsight, in cases of great difficulty, we should try to find the most expert advice on the night," said Mr Asderakis. |
After speaking to specialist transplant nurse Dawn Chapman, Mr Asderakis was confident the transplants could go ahead. | After speaking to specialist transplant nurse Dawn Chapman, Mr Asderakis was confident the transplants could go ahead. |
He said even though the kidneys showed signs of dysfunction, this was not uncommon. He expected to the organ to recover and perform normally. | He said even though the kidneys showed signs of dysfunction, this was not uncommon. He expected to the organ to recover and perform normally. |
Halicephalobus parasite | Halicephalobus parasite |
Mr Asderakis also said a hospital in Leeds, which had refused the kidneys, later said, on the balance of risk, it should have accepted them. | Mr Asderakis also said a hospital in Leeds, which had refused the kidneys, later said, on the balance of risk, it should have accepted them. |
"This case highlights that no-one could have predicted the first human-to-human transmission of a bug that no-one knew of before," said Mr Asderakis. | "This case highlights that no-one could have predicted the first human-to-human transmission of a bug that no-one knew of before," said Mr Asderakis. |
The inquest heard Mr Hughes, who died on 17 December, had undergone two previous transplants and was not eligible to receive 90% of organs available because he had anti-bodies in his blood. | The inquest heard Mr Hughes, who died on 17 December, had undergone two previous transplants and was not eligible to receive 90% of organs available because he had anti-bodies in his blood. |
Mr Stuart was prioritised because of his age. | Mr Stuart was prioritised because of his age. |
The inquest was earlier told organs from a donor with meningitis could still be transplanted to patients. | The inquest was earlier told organs from a donor with meningitis could still be transplanted to patients. |
Anthony Clarkson from NHS Blood and Transplant said donor families were asked about their health and lifestyle history. | Anthony Clarkson from NHS Blood and Transplant said donor families were asked about their health and lifestyle history. |
The donor in this case had his liver, heart and lungs rejected because of his "significant alcohol history" and previous hospital admissions for jaundice. | The donor in this case had his liver, heart and lungs rejected because of his "significant alcohol history" and previous hospital admissions for jaundice. |
Mr Clarkson said UHW was aware the donor's kidneys had been rejected by five other centres before being offered to them. | Mr Clarkson said UHW was aware 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 was made on fact "not on other people's decision to accept or decline". | He said a hospital's decision whether or not to accept an organ was made on fact "not on other people's decision to accept or decline". |
'Another surgeon's opinion' | 'Another surgeon's opinion' |
The fact other hospitals rejected the organs was "no more than evidence of another surgeon's opinion". | The fact 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. | 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 men was meningoencephalitis - a form of meningitis - caused by the presence of the worms. | Pathologist Fouad Alchami said the primary cause of death for both men was meningoencephalitis - a form of meningitis - caused by the presence of the worms. |
The hearing has been adjourned until December. |