THE family of a woman from Carlton Minniott, near Thirsk, who died after suffering from deep vein thrombosis, has called for greater awareness of the condition.

North Yorkshire East coroner Michael Oakley recorded a verdict of misadventure on 44-year-old Karen Pearse.

She ruptured her Achilles tendon while playing tennis in August last year and was later admitted to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, for surgery to repair it.

She was discharged from hospital less than 48 hours after the surgery. Her husband, Andrew, told Monday's inquest at County Hall, Northallerton, that they were given no advice about the possibility of DVT when she was discharged.

He said they were told only to keep her leg elevated, to wriggle her toes and to call the doctor if her toes went blue.

Three weeks after being discharged, she began to experience dizziness, shortness of breath and blurred vision.

She was visited by Dr Andrzej Wladyslaw Trzeciak. He told the inquest that, after carrying out a verbal examination, he concluded that her symptoms were a side-effect of the medication she was taking for her injured leg.

Later that day, she began to feel very unwell and collapsed. She was taken to the Friarage by ambulance, but died a short time later.

A post mortem found she died from a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis.

Dr Trzeciak told the inquest: "Obviously, I was aware of the fact that Mrs Pearse was at potential risk of a pulmonary embolism.

"Three symptoms were displayed to me - breathlessness, dizziness and blurred vision.

"There were no other factors to indicate that a pulmonary embolism had occurred."

After the hearing, Mrs Pearse's family released a statement calling for the Friarage to give more information to patients about DVT.

It said: "The family feels that any advice given was totally inadequate and Karen's tragic death could have been prevented by giving details about DVT and the symptoms to watch out for."

Carol Dargue, divisional manager for trauma at the Friarage Hospital, said: "This is a tragedy for the family and we extend our condolences to them.

"It is very important for patients to receive information about the warning signs and symptoms of DVT and, while we always speak to patients, we are now looking at producing an information leaflet."

She said the leaflet was nearing completion and would be available shortly.