Baby died due to lack of oxygen prior to delivery

A BABY boy was born with brain damage after he was deprived of oxygen in the immediate period prior to his delivery, an inquest has heard.

Baby Aidan Carandang, of 39 Millrace Avenue, Saggart, Co Dublin, died at The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital on September 19, 2009.

Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard that prior to delivery on September 17 there was an increase in the baby’s heart rate baseline from 4.05am, with a fast heart beat until his birth at 4.39am.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he was satisfied the cause of death was brain damage due to lack of oxygen, which occurred in the immediate pre-delivery period.

The cause of death was consistent with the period of the fast foetal heartbeat in the pre-delivery period, said the coroner. He recorded a narrative verdict.

After the conclusion of the inquest, Master of The Coombe Dr Chris Fitzpatrick said there had been a comprehensive review at the hospital of the circumstances surrounding the baby’s birth and death.

“There was no anticipation by the midwives and doctors in attendance on September 17 that baby Aidan would be born in a serious or critically ill condition. It was the expectation... that spontaneous delivery of baby Aidan was imminent,” said Dr Fitzpatrick. “This expectation was based on the swift progress of labour and the fact that the baby’s head was visible from 4.15am,” he said. “When spontaneous delivery did not occur as expeditiously as expected, the hospital regrets that other actions were not taken to deliver baby Aidan sooner, which may have altered the tragic outcome.”

Dr Fitzpatrick expressed sincere sympathies and condolences to Vivian and Angelito Carandang.

Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard that Dr Kayode Fadare was called to review Ms Carandang at 4.10am on September 17 because of a rise in the foetal baseline heart rate. The registrar arrived at 4.15am.

At 4.25am Dr Fadare asked another doctor to perform an episiotomy (vaginal incision), which was carried out. The baby was born more than 10 minutes later in poor condition.

Giving evidence the doctor said his clinical judgement was Ms Carandang was going to deliver soon.

He said he felt preparing for an instrumental delivery would take more time.

The coroner said he would contact the hospital regarding the fact that the placenta was not sent to the laboratory for analysis when it should have been.