The inquest into the death of a pregnant woman during surgery at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street, Dublin, has heard that vascular clamps were not available in the operating theatre.
The claim was made by Liam Reidy, Senior Counsel for 35-year-old Malak Thawley's husband, Alan, who cited a report by the National Maternity Hospital into her death
Mr Reidy said the report highlighted a number of failures and its contents left Mr Thawley in a state of "shock and horror."
Mr Reidy said the hospital report found there was a "systemic communication failure", a delay in getting a consultant to the operating theatre and an issue relating to equipment.
He told Dublin Coroner's Court that once the problem was identified there was a delay in getting a consultant to the operating theatre.
He noted that there was external assistance from a vascular surgeon and an obstetrician.
Ms Thawley, from Blackrock in Co Dublin, died on 8 May at the National Maternity Hospital.
The cause of death was due to a tear in the abdominal aorta during the course of surgery for an ectopic pregnancy.
Ms Thawley, a teacher originally from Syria was expecting her first baby and was seven weeks pregnant when a scan identified an ectopic pregnancy.
Mr Reidy said that there were many issues to be examined, including training and supervision of staff and whether a more experienced consultant should have been in theatre, along with the senior registrar who carried out the operation.
Mr Reidy also said the internal hospital investigation report raised issues about recognising a problem during surgery and the protocols for liaising with other hospitals.
He told the inquest his side was very grateful for the internal investigation report, however Ms Thawley's husband Alan had been unable to participate in it.
Simon Mills, barrister for the National Maternity Hospital, said it was not appropriate to provide all of the statements given to the internal hospital inquiry to the other side.
He said the nature of the report was that it was one process and the inquest was another and the two should be kept separate.
Consultant Pathologist Dr Thomas Crotty at St Vincent's Hospital carried out an autopsy and gave the cause of death as a tear in the abdominal aorta during the course of laparoscopic therapy due to an ectopic pregnancy in the right fallopian tube.
The short inquest heard that 18 statements were taken from medical staff in order to prepare the hospital”s report into Ms Thawley”s death.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane will review all 18 statements before finalising the list of witnesses to give evidence at a full inquest hearing.
The Coroner”s office has requested eight statements, seven of which have been provided to the court to date, the inquest heard.
The final statement is due imminently, barrister for the hospital Dr Simon Mills said.
A full inquest hearing into the circumstances surrounding Ms Thawley”s death will take place early next year.
Mr Thawley was not present for today's proceedings as he is abroad.
However, solicitor for the Thawley family, Caoimhe Haughey, said Mr Thawley is finding the whole process very difficult.
Speaking after today's inquest proceedings Ms Haughey said progress was being made.
Ms Haughey said she wanted all of those who contributed to the internal hospital investigation to be asked to give a statement to the coroner.
In particular, she said Mr Thawley wanted access to the statements of the 18 witnesses who were interviewed by the Holles Street investigation team, including two consultants at other hospitals, who were asked for assistance around the time of Ms Thawley's surgery.
The inquest has been set down for further mention on 10 January and the full inquest is expected to be held early next year.
It is expected to last two days.
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