THE family of a 70-year-old Burnley woman who died shortly after surgery are considering taking legal action against the Burnley Health Care NHS Trust.

An inquest heard that Letizia Lombardi underwent emergency surgery for a strangulated hernia at Burnley General and while the operation had been successful she was found dead in her hospital bed just hours later.

Mrs Lombardi, of Leyland Road, had been sat up talking to her son, Luigi, shortly before midnight but at 5am a nurse making regular observations discovered she had died. The inquest was told that Mrs Lombardi was given pain relief at 3am.

Mrs Lombardi was admitted through the accident and emergency department on August 16 and the urgent operation took place immediately despite her having a number of existing medical problems including asthma.

She was viewed as high risk and it was anticipated that post-operatively Mrs Lombardi would be taken to the intensive care unit.

However, the operation was completed without the need for a general anaesthetic, and Mrs Lombardi was eventually returned to a ward with a care plan outlined to nursing staff.

The operation was considered essential and there was no alternative.

Staff nurse Herbert Wheeler said the care plan involved hourly observations and he said these had been completed although not all the results had been recorded because the staff were extremely busy that night.

Home Office pathologist William Lawler had previously told the inquest that Mrs Lombardi died as a result of severe previously existing natural disease, including heart disease, emphysema, bronchitis and asthma, contributed to by the operation, although this had been a complete success.

Recording a verdict of misadventure coroner Michael Singleton said it could not have been anticipated that the stress of the operation would bring about Mrs Lombardi's untimely demise.

"While the risks presented by Mrs Lombardi undergoing surgery were clearly recognised, that surgery was absolutely necessary," said Mr Singleton.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Lombardi, whose family was legally represented at the inquest, said they would be considering taking further legal action against the Burnley Health care NHS Trust.

A spokesman for the Trust said: "Mrs Letizia Lombardi was admitted to Burnley General Hospital on August 16, 2001. Following assessment an emergency operation was performed to resect an acute strangulated hernia.

" The operation itself was uneventful but unfortunately Mrs Lombardi died as a result of an exacerbation of her existing cardio vascular disease brought on by the undoubted physiological stress caused by the emergency operation.

"Burnley Health care NHS Trust would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere condolences to Mrs Lombardi's family on their tragic loss."