Mother died days after dropping her child in stillbirth as a result of medical doctors ‘weren’t quick sufficient to carry out MRI that would have saved them each’, inquest advised
A mother died days after losing her baby in a stillbirth because doctors were too slow to perform an MRI scan that could have saved both of their lives, an inquest has heard.
Tammy Mackenzie, 41, died at Heartlands Hospital in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on August 6, 2023, days after surgery to treat a small bowel obstruction.
Her daughter, Khloe, was stillborn at 28 weeks following an emergency caesarean when Tammy’s health rapidly deteriorated.
An inquest heard an MRI scan had been recommended on July 26 after she had been repeatedly admitted to hospital since May because of abdominal pain and vomiting.
But it did not take place until four days later on July 30, which revealed she had a small bowel obstruction, reported Birmingham Live.
Assistant coroner Birmingham and Solihull Ian Dreelan ruled Tammy’s death was of natural causes but had been ‘contributed by missed opportunities to diagnose the underlying condition of a small bowel obstruction’.
The medical cause of death was recorded as multiple organ failure, strangulated small intestine and abdominal adhesion.
An internal review found that if the MRI scan had been carried out sooner, then ‘the surgical option could’ve been performed while Tammy was more stable and Tammy, and her daughter, were more likely to have survived’.
Pregnant Tammy Mackenzie, 41, died at Heartlands Hospital in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on August 6, 2023, days after surgery to treat a small bowel obstruction
Her daughter, Khloe, was stillborn days earlier. An inquest has found she and her baby may have been saved if doctors had carried out an MRI scan sooner
Tammy’s mother, Jacqueline, described her daughter as ‘happy-go-lucky’ and said she misses her ‘terribly’.
The inquest was told Tammy had since May 2023 been suffering from abdominal pain and cramps.
The mother was initially treated for constipation at the beginning of July, but was discharged after a four-day stay in hospital.
She was readmitted two weeks later when an MRI scan was recommended but this did not take place for another four days, when the bowel obstruction was discovered.
Her condition began to worsen and on August 1 it was decided she would have an emergency laparotomy – a major abdominal surgery.
Tammy was transferred to the intensive care unit but did not respond to treatment and another laparotomy took place two days later.
Her health continued to deteriorate and she died on August 6, hours after her treatment was withdrawn.
Mr Dreelan said: ‘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.’
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust told the Mail: ‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Tammy Mackenzie.
‘The loss of both a mother and her baby is a profound tragedy, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.
‘The inquest has now concluded, and we fully acknowledge the findings. An internal review was carried out following the patient’s death, and we have taken forward the learning to strengthen our processes and improve the safety and quality of care.
‘A number of changes have already been implemented to reduce the risk of such circumstances occurring again.
‘We remain committed to providing safe, compassionate care and will continue to ensure that the lessons from this case are embedded across our services.’
