An inquest into the death of a young pregnant woman at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has heard her family are haunted by the fear that she was not treated fast enough for sepsis.
Leona Cusack from Ballycasey, Shannon, Co Clare, was 5 weeks pregnant following IVF treatment and suffered a miscarriage prior to her death on 18 February 2024.
The 33-year-old first presented at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) on the Ennis Road, Limerick, on 15 February 2024 with abdominal pain, chest pains, shortness of breath and a strange taste in her mouth.
The inquest heard she was extremely upset and concerned for her pregnancy.
Upon initial examination, her vital signs were stable, but she had tachycardia - a fast heart rate.
In his evidence, her husband, Conor Cusack became emotional as his statement to the coroner's court was read.
He said that after attending the maternity hospital with his wife, it was recommended that she be admitted, but the couple overheard staff say there was no bed available.
They went home only to return the following morning with Ms Cusack feeling "very unwell".
The registrar in obstetrics at UMHL, Dr Suhaib Akhtar Birmani examined Ms Cusack and he said she was "very anxious" and she needed to stay in for further observation.
Dr Birmani agreed with Damien Tansey, SC, solicitor for the family, that Ms Cusack’s temperature was high and her white blood cell count was elevated.
He said that "it was a pregnancy of unknown location", adding he was concerned after a scan did not show anything that it could be an ectopic pregnancy.
Dr Birmani agreed that he suspected sepsis, and he said he initiated a sepsis protocol.
The court heard that blood tests indicated that Ms Cusack was at risk of a heart attack.
Dr Birmani said it was requested that a cardiologist come to the maternity hospital, but the inquest heard that the request was refused.
Instead, Ms Cusack was transferred immediately to UHL.
The doctor agreed that the correct treatment for sepsis is to administer broad spectrum antibiotics - this was not done before she left the maternity hospital, he said.
On arrival at UHL, she was seen by the cardiologist, Dr Cormac O’Connor. It was at UHL that she was told had lost her pregnancy.
The inquest heard her sister Rachael Kirwan, an advanced nurse practitioner working in Glasgow, asked Dr O’Connor about her sister’s condition.
Ms Kirwan said Ms Cusack’s condition was driven by anxiety and that her sister had the heart of a lion and that he was surprised she was not shadow boxing in the corner.
The inquest heard she was discharged from the Cardiac Care Unit as it was not a heart issue and moved to ICU to deal with the infection.
Ms Cusack was not given broad spectrum antibiotics until 4pm on February 17th at UHL.
The following day, she was brought to theater for a D and C following her miscarriage, but suffered a cardiac arrest and died.
Mr Tansey said, "It is haunting the family that there were clear indicators of sepsis and cardiac issues, but when she went to UHL, it was forgotten about.
"That’s what lead to her death, she wasn’t treated properly," the solicitor said.
The inquest at Limerick’s Coroner’s Court in Kilmallock is expected to last a number of days.
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