Heavy smoker faced no-win plight

A Burnley inquest, at the town's Magistrates Court, heard how James Owen Dawson, 68, had had a large swelling on his aorta which could have got bigger, burst and killed him.

Mr Dawson, a heavy smoker for more than 50 years, had "pre-existing natural diseases, " and died from multi organ failure, two and a half weeks after the operation at Burnley General Hospital.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said Mr Dawson had had no alternative but to have the surgery and had been faced with a dilemna many people experienced.

He added that had he not had the operation, he might still have been alive, but it was not known what would have happened to him.

Mr Dawson's widow Norma, of Marsden Hall Road, Nelson, said her husband, a retired painter and decorator, died on May 21.

He had suffered a heart attack in the past and was seeing his doctor for an irregular heartbeat.

Mr Dawson, who had been suffering from abdominal pain, agreed to surgery on his aorta, was admitted to hospital and had the operation on May 3. He later developed breathing problems and put on a ventilator.

Consultant General Vascular Surgeon Haytham Al-Khaffaf said if left the swelling could have got bigger and burst and the only option was an operation.

Technically, the surgery went smoothly and the next day, Mr Dawson appeared to be doing well. His breathing then started to deteriorate and he was kept in intensive care but died later.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler said Mr Dawson, who had problems with his heart, had a lot of fluid in his tissues which was one of the manifestations of multi organ failure.

Mr Dawson's lungs showed chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the legacies of prolonged smoking. By the time of his death he had bronchial pneumonia in both lungs.

Dr Lawler said Mr Dawson had pre-existing natural diseases which increased the risks of any anaesthetic and operation, although the surgery was entirely successful.