A HOSPITAL investigation into how a man died following a complicated operation found health staff were not to blame for his death, an inquest heard.

Barry Charles Miller, 59, of Romney Avenue, Barrowford, died two weeks after a high-risk operation to remove his left kidney.

Hospital chiefs from Burnley General took to the witness box at Burnley Magistrates Court yesterday to give evidence at the inquest.

Doctors said a cancerous tumour had developed behind the kidney which left them with little option but to operate.

He was admitted into hospital on February 11, 2003, operated on February 27, before difficulties arose on March 6. He died on March 13, 2003.

Following the death the hospital was obliged to carry out its own investigation. It revealed staff could in no way be blamed for attempting to carry out what was a high-risk procedure.

While Mr Miller was in intensive care, the tube that was helping him to breathe became dislodged and started to leak.

Nursing staff took immediate action and called for the help of senior medical staff working on the unit.

The inquest heard that the situation was declared an anaesthetic emergency after he was given a paralysing drug to allow quick access to his airways, but it failed to take effect when he went into spasm.

He was then given a general anaesthetic agent which didn't work, leaving doctors with no other option than to perform an emergency access procedure through his Adam's apple.

Dr Charles Wilson, a Home Office forensic pathologist, said Mr Miller was obese, weighed 19.5 stones and had a thick neck structure.

He said: "His lungs were three times their normal weight. He was slipping into multi organ failure. Had his kidney not been removed, the cancer would have proved fatal. The clinical management was entirely appropriate."

He said the cause of death was multi-organ failure and heart disease.

Richard Taylor, East Lancashire Coroner, recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.