Hong Kong inquest finds rare gastroscopy complication caused man’s death

Coroner rules death caused by brain swelling after procedure at Queen Mary Hospital in 2024, with rapid deterioration limiting treatment options

A 29-year-old Hong Kong man died of misadventure linked to a rare complication following a gastroscopy at a public hospital two years ago, a death inquest has found.

The Coroner’s Court on Friday ruled that Lui Pak-to died of cerebral oedema, or brain swelling, triggered by the procedure at Queen Mary Hospital on February 29, 2024.

Coroner Raymund Chow Chi-wei cited expert evidence indicating it was undesirable that Lui had to wait four hours and 40 minutes for a brain scan after suffering a seizure that afternoon.

However, Chow said Lui’s condition deteriorated too rapidly for the hospital to arrange hyperbaric oxygen therapy – a treatment involving pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber – at another institution.

He also noted that the complication was so rare that implementing preventive measures for every patient would be impractical.

No recommendations were made to the Hospital Authority regarding the case.