A mum-of-three who lost 14 stone died nine days after having a gastric band fitted – when it became INFECTED, an inquest heard.
Tragic Lisa Twining, 49, had struggled with her weight for a number of years and at her heaviest tipped the scales at 23st 7lbs.
An inquest heard she had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 60 – more than twice the recommended level – and was classed as morbidly obese.
She told husband Lorne, 50, she wanted to get a gastric band fitted after seeing successful transformations from other patients.
To meet the criteria, the mum-of-three embarked on a weight loss regime with the help of a dietician, who put her on a strict calorie-controlled diet.
Mrs Twining, from Tipton, West Mids., then had weight loss surgery at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham on June 26 and was discharged the same day.
But she was taken to Sandwell Hospital in West Bromwich, West Mids., complaining of abdominal pain, and doctors discovered the band had become infected.
She was then transferred back to Heartlands Hospital where she was again operated on but her condition deteriorated and she died on July 5, weighing 9 stone.
On Thursday (25/8) Emma Brown, area coroner for Birmingham, recorded a narrative verdict at the inquest into her death at Birmingham Coroner’s Court.
She said: “Death was a result of a recognised complication of an elective medical procedure.
“I am aware that Mrs Twining had other medical complications like diabetes and obesity but this was not uncommon in patients fitted with gastric bands.
“I am aware and accept that the mortality risk is low and it is extremely unfortunate that Mrs Twining should be the one in 1,000 who would die as a result of this procedure.”
Speaking yesterday (Wed), her devastated husband Lorne said he would not wish the procedure “on his worst enemy” after seeing his wife suffer.
He said: “When I first met Lisa, she was quite big.
“She always said that if she had the money, she would have a gastric band.
“She had wanted the operation for about five or six years, and once she sets her mind to something, she does it.
“She was pretty determined from the outset to have it done and she practically bit the doctor’s hand off when it was offered to her.
“Lots of people said to her to make sure she was 100 per cent sure it’s what she wanted, but she said to me ‘there’s always a chance I can go back to my old weight and I don’t want to’.
“I will never forget her saying that to me.
“She even lost quite a bit of weight in order for her to have it done and she was so pleased with how much weight she had already lost.
“At the time we didn’t think twice because you don’t think for one minute in your wildest dreams that you’ll come out at the end of it at death’s door, and then dying.
“The amount of operations that are performed like this every day meant we were confident the surgery would be a success.
“She was a little bit nervous before the operation, but the excitement outweighed the nerves.
“She had the operation and was discharged and her weight went down to about 9st.
“She was over the moon, but a few days later we were in bed and she said to me ‘Lorne, I’m absolutely freezing’.
“I got a really thick duvet for her and she wrapped up warm. We thought she had a cold as our daughter Samantha had a cold at the time.
“In the days after the operation, she would just lie on the sofa and sleep for a lot of the time.
“We thought it was just the general wear and tear of the surgery taking its toll.
“But then one day she said to me ‘I don’t know whether I should call a paramedic to come and see me’.
“I asked her if she was sure because she hated hospitals, and she said yes so I called for an ambulance.
“The doctor called me and said I should come back to the hospital as Lisa didn’t have long left.
“Within three days she was dead.”
Mr Twining, who had been married to Mrs Twining for 13 years, added: “During my last conversation with her, I told her I loved her and I am so glad I said that.
“I just can’t help thinking that she should have been encouraged by the professionals to carry on losing the weight in the way that she had been.
“Had I have known what would have happened to my wife, there is no way I would have allowed her to have had this done.
“I would urge anyone thinking of having this procedure to think very long and hard.
