A HAMPSHIRE hospital has changed its protocol after an inquest heard doctors could have protected a pensioner from the risks of emergency anaesthetic.

Kenneth Spencer, 77, of Testwood Road, Freemantle, died in Southampton General Hospital after being rushed in to bowel surgery.

He regurgitated stomach fluid into his lungs after anaesthetists decided not to place a suction tube.

Doctors defended the move at the inquest into his death, saying it was unclear whether Mr Spencer’s symptoms demanded the tube.

The hospital has now ruled they should always be installed in cases of bowel obstruction.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Spencer was admitted to hospital on October 8 for a hernia operation.

Surgery was scheduled for the next morning but Mr Spencer was rushed to theatre in the early hours as doctors feared fatal bowel damage, the inquest heard.

Anaesthetists launched ‘rapid sequence induction’, used in emergencies to reduce the risk of regurgitation, but the court heard Mr Spencer started throwing up stomach fluid.

Some fell into his lungs despite doctors’ efforts but surgery went ahead once he was incubated.

The lung damage caused acute respiratory distress syndrome, leading to Mr Spencer’s death on October 19, consultant histopathologist Dr Sanjay Jogai said.

Dr Matthew Taylor, the trainee anaesthetist who treated Mr Spencer with a senior colleague, said the nasogastric tube could have interfered with other painkilling measures.

“The problem we faced with Mr Spencer’s case is that we didn’t note any signs of gastrointestinal obstruction and therefore there was a decision,” Dr Taylor said.

“If a patient has evidence of bowel obstruction then quite correctly we would place a nasogastric tube. I think we’ve all learnt from Mr Spencer’s case and I think we’ve all reduced our threshold to place nasogastric tubes.”

Dr Ian Bailey, duty consultant, said in a statement that it was “completely correct” to operate overnight and “reasonable” to withhold the tube as Mr Spencer was not vomiting.

But a hospital review ruled that doctors must “reinforce the absolute requirement for an NG tube in any patient with intestine obstruction before going into theatre.”

Dr Taylor added: “I don’t think this decision was wrong. It was made with the information available at the time and it was made with thought and with deliberation.”

Deputy coroner for central Hampshire Simon Burge recorded a verdict of accidental death.