Woman died after stroke following op

A PENSIONER died after suffering complications following a knee operation.

Joyce McQuade, from Biddulph, suffered two strokes in the wake of successful surgery on an arthritic knee.

An inquest into the 71-year-old's death yesterday heard retired cleaner Mrs McQuade, of Woodland Street, went into South Cheshire Private Hospital, on the site of Leighton Hospital in Crewe, and had the routine operation on December 27, 2007.

North Staffordshire Coroner's Court heard the mother-of-five initially recovered well, but had a stroke in the early hours of the following day.

That was complicated when she had a second stroke within 24 hours and then contracted a lung problem, aspiration pneumonia, on December 30.

It was not known she had suffered the second stroke until a post-mortem examination was carried out.

Consultant physician Dr Maxwell Winson said all correct procedures for dealing with stroke patients had been followed by experienced staff.

Mrs McQuade was taken to the City General in Hartshill on New Year's Day as consultants tried to make it easier for her family to visit. She died the following day.

Coroner Ian Smith recorded death as being caused by aspiration pneumonia due to brain infarction and knee surgery.

Mr Smith said surgery was carried out properly, but added: "She lived for 71 years without a stroke. I do not think I can ignore the proximity of it being within hours of the surgery."