A woman who had a hysterectomy after getting cancer of the womb died from a blood clot less than a month after her surgery, an inquest heard.

Patricia O’Bryan, 67, of Thames Street, Weybridge, died at home on December 20, 2012, a day after telling doctors she was suffering from shortness of breath.

Doctor Graeme Wilding told Mrs O’Bryan to restart the medication she was given following her surgery on November 26, because she had previously suffered from similar symptoms.

The following day, Mrs O’Bryan died at home and paramedics were unable to revive her.

Doctor Norman Ratcliffe, independent consultant pathologist, carried out a postmortem examination and said the major finding was in the chest.

He said: “Both lungs were heavier than they should have been because of retained fluid and blood.”

Doctor Ratcliffe said the clot would have started in the legs and then travelled up to the heart before passing in to the lungs, which is an “extremely common cause of sudden death”.

Mrs O’Bryan underwent a hysterectomy after suffering bleeding following the menopause.

Doctor Anil Tailor, consultant gynaecologic oncologist at Royal Surrey Hospital and St Peter’s Hospital, first saw Mrs O’Bryan in late October, after doctors in the casualty department took a sample.

The results showed that Mrs O’Bryan had a cancer of the womb and Dr Tailor said a hysterectomy was the right treatment.

He said: “She was very poorly indeed and it was extremely necessary.

“The operation went fine with no problems. She became unwell after surgery and had a leaking wound. It was necessary to get her back to theatre to have it corrected.”

Mrs O’Bryan went back in to theatre on the December 6 to correct the stitches to her wound, a decision which Dr Tailor said was not taken lightly.

She was discharged from hospital on December 13 and returned home and was required to take blood thinning injections and wear stocking to prevent deep vein thrombosis, as pelvic surgery is one of the highest risk groups.

Martin Fleming, assistant deputy coroner for Surrey, recorded a narrative verdict.

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