Kali Fungavaka suffered head injury [1]
Tuesday, May 27, 2014 - 18:21
A surgeon specialist told the jury-trial into the death of Kali Fungavaka today the deceased had sustained head injury that included multiple skull fractures on the top of his head, when examined upon admission to Vaiola Hospital on August 18, 2012.
Dr Viliami Tangi (Lord Tangi) a Crown witness in the jury-trial for the civilian accused Semisi Kalisitiane Manu, who is charged with manslaughter and an alternative of grievous bodily harm, said the police brought Kali into the emergency unit.
“Kali was admitted to the surgical ward at 10:30am under my care. The information I received at the time from the police was that this person was involved in a fight at the Nuku’alofa Police station,” he said.
Dr Tangi said on his first observation it was clear from Kali's breath that he had consumed alcohol.
“He was drowsy as he was not fully conscious in response to my verbal conversation. His vital signs including his blood pressure, pulse and respiration was normal. There was a lot of dry blood found on his hair but there was no major skull lacerations. I found bruising on the front of his shoulder,” he said.
Kali had an x-ray before he was put into the intensive care to be further observed.
“The x-ray showed that the top of the head had multiple skull fractures but there were no other major injures except for the head injury."
The court heard that Kali's state was closely monitored by the surgeon and his medical team. However, on Sunday evening August 19 Kali's conscious state started to deteriorate although his vital signs remained stable. “Around 11:30pm that night his state of conciousness had gotten worse and we advised his next of kin who was an aunt,” he said.
Dr Tangi said on Monday morning, August 20 at 3:00am on duty staff reported to him that the patient's left pupil was getting bigger and was not responding to the light.
“This kind of condition indicated to me there was an increased pressure inside the skull. The normal medical response was to open the skull to release that pressure inside so we proceeded to the operation theatre. The left eye indicated the problem and so the target was on the left side of the head where we suspected the injury occurred. Surgery was conducted by opening a hole of about 3cm in diameter on the side of his head just above the left ear.”
The doctor said it was clear that the brain was under pressure and swelled.
Mr Justice Cato asked the doctor what could have caused this kind of swelling of the brain.
“It can be caused by blunt trauma,” said the doctor, who said they took all the necessary action before finishing the surgery.
Dr Tangi said Kali was then put on life support but it was inevitable that his life had deteriorated. At 6:30pm on Thursday evening, August 23 he passed away.
The court heard when Kali was admitted to the hospital they had no CT scan to investigate the head, but the hospital had acquired one since March last year.
The Crown Prosecutor asked the doctor if the CT scan was available then would he have been able to see the whole brain tissue. He said “yes.”
The trial which continues this week is expected to finish with the Crown witnesses before moving to the defence side represented by Sione 'Etika.