Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Lynn Poyser

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0295, written 23 Jul 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report23 Jul 2015
Reference2015-0295
DeceasedLynn Poyser
CoronerARW Forrest
Coroner areaSouth Lincolnshire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

AR W Forrest tum, ercp, Frcpath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
1. EE Director Pharmacovigilance, MHRA
2. FP Director CCP, National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence, 10 Spring Gardens, London, SW1A 2BU
3. Fe Medical Director Lincolnshire Community Health
Services, Bridge House, Unit 16, Sleaford, NG34 8GG

CORONER

| am ARW Forrest, Senior Coroner for the Coroner's area of South Lincolnshire.

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 31* March 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of Lynn POYSER, age
56. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22" July 2015. The
conclusion of the inquest was ACCIDENT.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Lynn suffered from a number of problems including impaired kidney function,
fatty liver disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Fibromyalgia and heart failure. She
was being prescribed 22 different medicines including Spironolactone when she
attended her G.P. for a nurse led chronic illness check on 5" March 2014. Her
blood pressure was noted to be 144/80. The registered nurse, not a prescriber,
printed out a prescription for 2.5mg Lisinopril once daily for Lynn. She took this
to the duty doctor in the practice who was not Lynn's regular G.P. After

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

AR W Forrest i, rrcp, FrcPath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

Ko

discussion the prescription was signed. It was received in a pharmacy adjacent
to the practice on 8'" March 2014 and once dispensed was collected by her
husband. Arrangements were made for a "blood test", including serum
potassium on 24" March 2014. On 22" March 2014 she was admitted to hospital
with a serum potassium of 9.7 mmol/L. Despite appropriate treatment she had a
cardiac arrest from which she could not be resuscitated. Her vitreous humour at
post mortem had a urea concentration of 41.8 mmol / L and a creatinine

concentration of 421 mmol / L.
The cause of death was recorded as:
1a Hyperkalaemic Cardiac Arrhythmia

1b Acute on Chronic Renal Failure
1c Co-prescription Spironolactone and Lisinopril

CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

1: Evidence was presented at the inquest to the effect that the interaction between
Lisinopril and Spironolactone is well known, and that Lisinopril can precipitate
deterioration in a patient's renal function. NICE published guidelines on initiation of
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy indicates that patients should be
reviewed one to two weeks after initiation of therapy and have their renal function and
electrolyte status checked 10 — 14 days after initiation of ACEI therapy. This is re- :
iterated in LCHS guidance. The expert evidence at the inquest pointed out that,
following a report of a trial in 1999 "The Randomised Aldactone Evaluation Study", there
was an increase in the co-prescription of Spironolactone and Lisinopril in heart failure,
immediately followed by an increase in hospital admissions and subsequent deaths

associated with hyperkalaemia.

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

AR W Forrest iu, ercp, ercpath
GMC Number: 1333523
Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

Those to whom | make this report may wish to consider whether or not the current
guidance relating to the co-prescription of ACEI drugs, such as Lisinopril, and
Spironolactone draws sufficient attention to the need for caution and the need to take a
holistic view of the best interests of the patient.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you and/or
your organisation have the power to take such action.

ae |

YOUR RESPONSE
You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 21° September 2015 . |, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested

Persons:
1. H- Husband
2. EE son
3: - Daughter

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

23 July 2015
ARW Forrest.......... P| SUREUIA Nava devnenctietestarcsen

H M Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

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