An inquest into the death of a woman who died hours after a "routine" operation for a hand injury yesterday heard that a brown substance found in her lungs had baffled pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan.
Dr Gilsenan carried out tests on the substance and consulted medical colleagues on its make-up, but without success. He intends to seek further opinions in England this weekend.
Mrs Linda Traynor (44), Larkfield, Station Road, Dunboyne, Co Meath died in 2001 after going under a general anaesthetic for an operation to treat a hand injury. The operation is known as Carpal Tunnel Release, and is a standard treatment for people with Repetitive Strain Injury.
The operation took place in St Francis' Private Hospital, Ballinderry, Mullingar, but Mrs Traynor was rushed by ambulance to Mullingar General Hospital when complications arose.
Coroner Brian Mahon returned a verdict of death due to acute post-operative cardiac failure and pulmonary oedema. He could not say why the pulmonary oedema or cardiac failure occurred, except to offer the opinion that he thought Mrs Traynor had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs given in the anaesthetic.
The inquest heard that Mrs Traynor, a mother of young children, went into St Francis' hospital on October 13th, 2001, as a day patient. Dr Rosemary Dun- don administered the anaesthetic prior to the operation, which was carried out by Dr Imram Sharif.
When complications developed a number of bouts of drugs were administered. She was transferred to Mullingar General Hospital and died just before 5 p.m.
The coroner said he found no evidence of medical accident and said the inquest could be reopened if Dr Gilsenan solved the mystery of the brown substance.