A woman who had to wait weeks to see her dentist died after being rushed to hospital with toothache.
Leigh Rodgers, 34, went into shock while being given a scan at her local hospital and died due to an allergic reaction to a chemical dye used to aid the imaging process.
She had already been in pain for two weeks before pleading with her dental surgery to be seen, an inquest heard.
After being told she would have to wait, her partner called an ambulance to their home in County Durham.
When she arrived at the University Hospital of North Durham, medics recognised it was a dental problem but a doctor could help with the pain.
But Ms Rodgers died after an allergic reaction to an iodine-based contrast dye used during a whole body CT scan.
The inquest was told she suffered from severe toothache that extended to her neck and chest for around a fortnight.
Her partner Darren told Crook Coroners’ Court: ‘She had been experiencing toothache for around 10-14 days.
Leigh Rodgers, 34, went into shock while being given a scan at her local hospital and died due to an allergic reaction to a chemical dye. Pictured: University Hospital of North Durham, County Durham
Ms Rodgers died after an allergic reaction to an iodine-based contrast dye used during a whole body CT scan (stock image)
‘In the past, the pain had subsided with painkillers, but that wasn’t working this time.
‘Leigh went to work on the morning of March 7, and had tried to get a dentist appointment but couldn’t for weeks.
‘She couldn’t wait that long. I called the ambulance and the paramedics came, and when we got to the hospital.
‘We were told that it was a dental issue but the doctor could assist with the pain.’
It was decided Ms Rodgers needed a CT scan of her neck and thorax to rule out the presence of Ludwig’s angina, a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection that can be caused by a tooth infection.
She was given iodine-based special dye which makes parts of the body more visible on scan.
While still in the scan machine, she went into anaphylactic shock.
Darren said: ‘We thought nothing of her being asked to go for the CT scan. She was in the doctor’s hands at that point.
‘I saw a rush of people go into the room, and I couldn’t really see what was happening, but soon found out that Leigh had suffered a reaction.’
Despite attempts to resuscitate her for over 90 minutes, she died just after 6.15pm.
A post-mortem revealed the cause of death was a reaction to the chemical.
The inquest was told Ms Rodgers suffered from severe toothache that extended to her neck and chest for around a fortnight. Pictured: University Hospital
Dr Oliver Moore, a consultant in emergency medicine at the hospital told the hearing: ‘My colleague felt that Leigh’s dental infection required further investigation.
‘A CT scan of her neck and thorax was the best cause of action, because two weeks of dental pain which then spread to the neck and chest is a significant red flag for Ludwig’s angina.
‘This was a reasonable working diagnosis to have, despite no evidence of Ludwig’s angina showing up on the scan results.
‘CT scans do come with a risk of reaction, but this is the single case of this situation in my practice, and I believe that there was no delay in administering treatment.’
Coroner Crispin Oliver recorded a narrative conclusion that Ms Rodgers had died from ‘severe refractory anaphylaxis to contrast media’.
He added: ‘This is a death in very unusual circumstances, and it is extremely unfortunate.
‘I wish that Leigh’s family did not have to be here today, and I hope that this never happens to anyone again.’
