Teenager had rare heart condition before Peterborough hospital death, inquest hears
Christian Hobbs was previously undiagnosed before he died in 2017
Doctors failed to recognise a 17-year-old boy with an undiagnosed heart condition was “acutely unwell”, an inquest has heard.
Christian Hobbs was admitted to Peterborough City Hospital on Boxing Day 2017 when he later died.
Coroner David Heming told Huntingdon Coroners' Court today (Monday) that Christian's mother, Louise Hobbs, described her son as "very fit" and boxing kept him focused on his physical health and diet.
The court heard in autumn 2017, Christian became unwell and was on antibiotics for a cough and chest infection, but there were no major health issues before December that year.
Mr Heming told the court Christian was "not feeling well" on Christmas Day and was going through "a normal of bout of flu".
Ms Hobbs then asked James Christie, Christian's grandfather, to look at him as there were "concerning features", the court heard.
Mr Christie, a retired consultant in orthopaedic trauma, found Christian's pulse rate was 240 beats per minute and that his face turned "morbidly white".
The inquest had previously heard from Danny Brown, the nurse in charge of the A&E resuscitation ward that night, who said observations of Christian taken between 6pm and 8pm showed "inconsistencies".
Mr Brown said that doctors were not alerted to Christian's condition because his breathing and airways were clear, but admitted there was "no debrief" held the day after Christian's death.
Mr Heming said after an observation of Christian at 8pm, Mrs Hobbs "called for help" and a note by the registrar read that the patient stopped responding before CPR began.
The court heard a decision was later made by doctors to stop active treatment on Christian at around 11.45pm.
A report by Dr Andrew Johnston, consultant in intensive care and anaesthetics at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, found there were "several concerning observations indicating severe illness" with Christian, including hypothermia and dehydration.
Dr Johnston said that Christian's National Early Warning Score was 10, which meant a clinical response was required.
The court heard Christian also had "three red flag triggers" for identifying sepsis, while the "urgency of the situation was underappreciated by the relevant team".
Christian's family, who were in court, heard from Mr Heming that Christian "deteriorated rapidly over 24 hours" and because he was "acutely unwell when at hospital, the severity of the situation should have triggered an earlier investigation".
Mr Heming concluded that Christian was living with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, which led to multiple organ failure.
Christian was a member of the Heart of England Community Boxing Club in Hinckley, Leicestershire which will rename its new gym in his honour.
What does the hospital say?
Dr Callum Gardner, chief medical officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust which runs Peterborough City Hospital, said Christian was admitted to the resuscitation area "where he was treated for septic shock with intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
"Unfortunately, his condition did not improve, and he suffered a cardiac arrest just over 2 hours later.
“Christian was immediately intubated and started on intensive treatment and his condition discussed with the local Cardiothoracic Unit."
Dr Gardner said a post-mortem examination found Christian had been suffering with "a previously undiagnosed cardiomyopathy" and offered "sincere condolences to Christian’s family.
"Sadly, cardiomyopathy is a rare and difficult diagnosis to make in a patient of this age," he added.
"We are sorry it was not possible to make the diagnosis and transfer Christian to a Cardiothoracic Unit before he deteriorated.”