A FATHER-of-five who died during an emergency operation had heart disease he was unaware of.

A Bolton inquest into the death of Malcolm Cowan heard that the 59-year-old probably did not know he had suffered a heart attack in the hours leading up to his death, but it was his damaged heart that contributed to him dying on the operating table.

Mr Cowan, of Belmont Road, Astley Bridge, had gone into hospital last July for a routine prostate operation and there was a recognised risk of bleeding with such an operation, the inquest was told.

The dayafter his operation, Mr Cowan had to return to the operating theatre after suffering a suspected bleed, but he suffered a cardiac arrest during the operation and could not be resuscitated.

The inquest heard that Mr Cowan underwent emergency surgery for more than an hour after the decision to operate was made.

But consultant urologist Miss Ling Lee, who carried out the surgery, said it was important to stabilise Mr Cowan before the operation, by giving him blood.

Susan Waddicar, patient safety and experience lead at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said an investigation was held following Mr Cowan’s death, which was normal practice following a death in hospital. She added that the investigation did not find any significant delays or lack of care.

She said the return to theatre was unavoidable but that lessons could be learned about the classification of bleeding.

Deputy coroner Alan Walsh made his own observation after discovering certain notes were not kept with the main medical notes belonging to Mr Cowan.

He said all notes should be kept together, “particularly after someone’s death”.

Pathologist Dr Jamil Choudhury said a post mortem examination revealed Mr Cowan had died as a result of a heart attack brought on by heart disease and post-operative haemorrhage (operated upon).

Mr Walsh recorded a narrative verdict, saying: “Malcolm Cowan died as a consequence of naturally occurring disease and the recognised complications of prostate surgery.”