Philadelphia Intubation Tube Errors Attorney
Endotracheal intubation is a medical procedure in which a doctor, paramedic, or other health care professional inserts a tube through the patient’s mouth and down the trachea. The trachea is the large airway connecting the mouth to the lungs. Professionals carry out intubations while patients are either sedated prior to surgery or unconscious in emergency situations.
Inserting the intubation tube takes special skill, training, and tools. Improper or negligent incubation tube errors can lead to serious trachea injuries, lack of oxygen to the brain, long-term health problems, and even death. As the victim of an intubation error, you deserve to take a stand against medical malpractice. Come to the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Anapol Weiss for trusted legal counsel.
About Endotracheal Intubation
Intubation is a lifesaving type of emergency medical care often provided to patients in out-of-hospital settings. In these situations, paramedics must use significant skill to maneuver the breathing tube into the correct position. Even a small mistake can lead to lack of oxygen to the brain, quickly resulting in brain damage or death. Paramedics must perform this procedure in chaotic settings in many cases, such as on the side of a highway or from inside a mangled vehicle after an accident.
There are many ways a paramedic might accidentally botch intubation, resulting in serious harms to the patient. Professionals in the hospital setting are under less environmental stress during intubation but can still make errors in the process. Improper training, not enough practice, or negligent incubation tube errors during a procedure can lead to patient injuries and deaths. Types of intubation errors include:
- Improper placement of the tube into the esophagus
- Tubing perforating delicate tissues
- Accidentally dislodging or disconnecting the tube
- Overinflating the tube
- Placement of the tube too deep
Intubation is a delicate and complex process that requires several carefully executed steps. Whether performed in an operating room or in the field, professionals must take great care during intubation. While many complications from intubation errors are treatable, others can cause permanent injuries and even death.
