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Medical Malpractice Lawyers for Intubation Errors
Ohio and Northern Kentucky Malpractice Attorneys for Intubation Errors and Misintubation
When someone needs assistance breathing in a medical setting, whether that’s on an operating table during a routine surgery or in the back of an ambulance after a catastrophic accident, it is likely that they will be intubated. Intubation can be a life-saving measure in a number of different scenarios, but just like any other intricate medical procedure, a mistake on the part of the medical personnel administering the intubation can lead to serious injury or even death.
If you or a loved one suffered an intubation injury following the medical negligence of a doctor or other healthcare provider, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim. At TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm, our Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky medical malpractice attorneys know what it takes to navigate even the most complex intubation error case. We are dedicated to helping injury victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve while holding negligent medical professionals accountable for their actions.
To speak with an experienced Kentucky or Ohio intubation malpractice attorney at our law firm, please give us a call at (800) 698-4054 or reach out to us online today for a free consultation regarding your case.
What is Intubation?
Intubation occurs when a tube is inserted into a patient’s trachea to enable sufficient oxygen intake while withdrawing carbon dioxide. The tracheal intubation tube, more commonly known as a breathing tube, is connected to a ventilator to control the flow of oxygen to the patient’s lungs.
Why Intubate a Patient?
A person may undergo intubation for a number of different reasons. As such, there are several different types of intubation procedures, all of which depend on the patient’s condition and initial purpose for intubation. These include:
- Endotracheal Intubation – The most common type of intubation for airway management. The endotracheal tube may enter through either the nose or mouth and into the trachea to provide oxygen for patients who are under general anesthesia or have an obstructed airway due to medical emergencies.
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- Orotracheal Intubation – Orotracheal intubation means the tube is inserted through the mouth and into the trachea. This is the more common type of endotracheal intubation.
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- Nasotracheal Intubation – This type of procedure is often done blindly, meaning the medical professional cannot get a visual of the larynx. The endotracheal tube is therefore placed through the nasal cavity and into the trachea.
- Nasogastric Intubation – This type of intubation tube passes through the nose and into the stomach. This may be for nutritional or medicinal purposes or to relieve excess air from the stomach.
- Fiberoptic Intubation – During this procedure, a fiberoptic scope is inserted through the patient’s throat to visualize the larynx and the glottic opening (the valve between the lungs and mouth). Next, a tracheal tube is inserted over the scope and into the trachea. Fiberoptic intubation may be performed when a patient cannot bend or extend their head.
- Tracheostomy Intubation – Tracheostomy intubation is often reserved for serious, life-threatening emergencies. This occurs when a medical professional makes an incision on the throat over the trachea in order to create an immediate airway.
Common Intubation Injuries
In many cases, intubation is medically necessary to save a person’s life. However, if it is not performed correctly, what should be a reasonably safe intubation procedure can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. Some of the more common medical complications we see following negligent intubation include:
- Aspiration: When a person inhales blood, vomit, or other bodily fluids.
- Respiratory distress: Low oxygen to the blood.
- Respiratory failure: Lungs collapsing as a result of trapped air in the chest cavity.
- Traumatic brain injury: A lack of oxygen to the brain cells can lead to irreversible damage.
- Vocal cord paralysis: If a tube damages the nerves in the larynx, a patient may suffer difficulty or even inability to speak.
- Mouth and teeth injuries: Bruises, lost teeth, cuts, scrapes, and other oral injuries are all possible following an intubation error.
- Infection: Negligent intubation practices and failure to monitor potential complications can lead to serious infections.
- Internal bleeding: May result if the intubation tube punctures internal organs.
- Nerve damage: Typically caused by puncture wounds.
- Stroke: Caused by lack of blood flow to the brain.
- Coma: If a patient’s airway is blocked for too long and the brain loses too much oxygen.
- Death: Failure to properly intubate or failure to intubate at all can lead to a person losing too much oxygen and their internal organs shutting down, leading to wrongful death.
How Do Intubation Injuries Occur?
An intubation injury may occur for a variety of reasons, but many times, it is due to a medical mistake made by a negligent medical professional. Physicians, paramedics, and other health care providers who may perform intubation procedures are required to undergo extensive training before ever intubating a patient. Inexperience, improper training, reckless insertion of the tube, and failure to monitor and/or address potential complications are all factors that may lead to intubated patients receiving serious or even fatal injuries. Failure to have the proper equipment, such as crash carts or the appropriate size/type of endotracheal tube, at the ready can also lead to a delay in intubation, which can be catastrophic or even fatal for patients.
Whether it is a seasoned physician with thousands of medical procedures under his or her belt or a rookie anesthesiologist prepping you for surgery, any mistake on the part of a negligent healthcare professional can lead to intubation malpractice as well as devastating consequences for you and your family.
Do I Have a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Intubation Injuries?
Every doctor has an obligation to provide competent and appropriate care to their patients. This is what is known as a “duty of care.” Failure to uphold this standard of care and causing bodily injury and/or mental harm to a patient as a result means the medical professional breached their duty. In these cases, the injured patient or their family may have a valid medical malpractice case against the negligent physician. Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult to prove that a medical provider acted in a negligent manner and that their negligence resulted in actual damages. That is why it is imperative that those who have been seriously harmed by a negligent anesthesia or intubation error obtain the help of a qualified medical malpractice attorney.
At TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm, our Covington, Cincinnati, and Dayton medical malpractice attorneys have more than 50 years of experience handling complex medical malpractice cases. We have developed a reputation as skilled and compassionate advocates in all types of personal injury claims, wrongful death lawsuits, and medical malpractice lawsuits, including those involving intubation malpractice.
Medical errors and their resulting injuries can be costly, often leaving families in financial ruin. That’s why we fight hard to cover every base and obtain maximum compensation on our client’s behalf. This means obtaining compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical bills, including both present and future medical expenses related to the injury
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of employment or business opportunities
- Value of domestic services
- Funeral and burial expenses (in cases of wrongful death)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- And more
Handling Medical Malpractice Claims Regarding Intubation Errors
When intubation errors occur, serious injuries are a very likely possibility. One wrong move can change the entire course of a person’s life. Healthcare providers who are guilty of intubation malpractice should be held accountable for their negligence, and those who suffer the consequences deserve to be appropriately compensated for the losses they’ve endured. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer like those at TLF can do just that.
If a physician made costly medical errors when performing a standard intubation procedure on you or a loved one and you suffered severe injury as a result, please call our Covington, Cincinnati, and Dayton injury attorneys at (800) 698-4054 or complete our online intake form to schedule a free consultation today. As soon as an attorney-client relationship is established, we will get straight to work building your case, protecting your rights, and fighting to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
In addition to intubation malpractice claims, our attorneys are also equipped to handle a number of other practice areas, including Ohio and Kentucky birth injury claims, pediatric malpractice claims, anesthesia error claims, and more. Call us today to see how we can help you get things back on track after a devastating accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
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You Pay No Fees Unless We Win!
We are happy to offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. If you hire us as your legal counsel, we will represent you on a contingency-fee basis. You will pay no attorneys’ fees unless we recover financial damages.