‘Missed alternatives’ as pregnant mum and child die in double tragedy
Tammy Mackenzie, 41, died at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham just five days after her daughter Khloe was stillborn – an inquest heard there had been ‘missed opportunities’ to save them both
Tammy Mackenzie and her baby died(Image: Family handout )
A pregnant mum died at a Birmingham hospital days after her daughter was delivered stillborn. An inquest heard that Tammy Mackenzie and her baby would have had a better chance of survival if Birmingham medics had performed an MRI scan earlier.
Tammy, who her mother Jacqueline described as a “happy-go-lucky person who laughed a lot”, was only 41 when she passed away at Heartlands Hospital on August 6, 2023.
She was 28 weeks into her pregnancy when she underwent an operation at the Bordesley Green hospital following her admission to its accident and emergency department on July 26 with stomach pain and sickness.
Her daughter Khloe was stillborn after an emergency caesarean section was performed when Tammy’s condition rapidly worsened, reports Birmingham Live.
Tammy’s relatives, seeking answers, attended her inquest this week believing that delays in diagnosing a small bowel blockage and subsequent surgery contributed to the tragedy.
The proceedings heard that there had been missed chances to identify and address her small bowel obstruction sooner – which might have led to both Tammy and Khloe surviving.
Assistant Coroner Ian Dreelan stated that Tammy arrived at hospital “against the background of a complex pregnancy”, experiencing severe intermittent stomach pain and sickness, with similar episodes going back to May 25 of that year.
She had previously been admitted to Heartlands between July 7 and July 11, where she received conservative treatment for constipation and was sent home. An MRI scan was recommended when Tammy attended hospital on July 26 and reiterated the following day after she was admitted to the maternity unit.
However, the scan did not take place until July 30, when it confirmed a diagnosis of small bowel obstruction.
On the evening of July 31, a nasogastric tube was inserted to decompress Tammy’s stomach, and the mum was given Gastrografin in an attempt to resolve the obstruction.
Shortly after being transferred to a surgical ward on August 1, Tammy’s condition deteriorated rapidly and she was prepared for an emergency laparotomy.
An emergency C-section was carried out but Khloe was stillborn. During surgery, the small bowel obstruction was identified and treated. Tammy was transferred to intensive care, where she failed to respond to treatment over the next 48 hours.
A further laparotomy was carried out on August 3, but her condition continued to deteriorate. Intensive care treatment was withdrawn on August 6 and Tammy died later that day.
An internal post-incident review concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, had the MRI been carried out sooner, the small bowel obstruction diagnosis would have been made earlier and treatment initiated while Tammy was more stable.
Tammy and her daughter “were more likely to have survived” under those circumstances, Mr Dreelan said.
He recorded the medical cause of death as multiple organ failure, strangulated small intestine and abdominal adhesion.
Wrapping up the inquest, the coroner stated that Tammy’s death was due to natural causes, “contributed to by missed opportunities to diagnose the underlying condition of small bowel obstruction”.
Addressing her family, Mr Dreelan said: “An internal, post-incident review concluded that, on the balance of probability, had the MRI been actioned sooner, referring a diagnosis of small bowel obstruction, the non-surgical treatment would have been initiated earlier, and the surgical option could’ve been performed while Tammy was more stable and, Tammy, and her daughter, were more likely to have survived.
“I conclude that Tammy died as a result of natural causes, contributed to by missed opportunities to diagnose the underlying condition of small bowel obstruction.
“Words can’t express my condolences to the family sufficiently for the loss you have suffered. I hope, in some very small part, the conclusion of this process allows you to move forward in some way.”
Tammy’s mum, Jacqueline, expressed that she misses her “happy-go-lucky” daughter “terribly”.
