Allergic reaction (From Barry And District News)

Allergic reaction

A RHOOSE woman died after an allergic reaction to a dye used in brain scans, an inquest has been told.

Sally Davies, aged 37 was suffering from seizures which had left her barely conscious and in intensive care and doctors looking for the cause of her convulsions had sent her for tests.

They now believe a virus, possibly the herpes simplex virus which causes cold sores, had attacked her brain leaving her with dangerous swelling known as encephalitis.

At an inquest into her death held on Wednesday, July 28, Cardiff Coroner's Court heard a dramatic account of her final moments from the anaesthetist who prepared Miss Davies for the brain scan.

Dr Sai Gopal said the patient suffered the most severe allergic reaction he had ever seen.

He said: "I realised her face and chest were swelling up and the ventilator was finding it difficult to inflate her lungs.

"I tried to ventilate her by hand but even then I couldn't get any air into her lungs."

It was heard that the situation unfolded rapidly and that all attempts to resuscitate Miss Davies failed.

Dr Gopal added: "The course of events happened within seconds."

He went on to explain that he tried injecting adrenaline but could not bring her back to life after her heart stopped.

Earlier, the court heard from radiologist Rajesh Bhagree, who said there was no reason to suspect the patient would have such an allergic reaction.

Miss Davies had been given a similar scan using the same dye just days earlier without these violent occurrences.

But the court also heard evidence that it was not uncommon for allergic reactions to happen the second time a person was exposed to a substance.

Pathologist George Lammie said the cause of death was most likely to be the allergic reaction to the dye.

Coroner Dr Lawrence Addicott recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Three of Miss Davies' family members were at the inquest, but did not wish to comment on the proceedings.