Tracheal Tube Mistakes with Botched Tracheotomies

Tracheotomies are extremely important procedures needed to help patients continue breathing if they have an obstructed or collapsed airway. These procedures allow a physician to open the airway to a natural point of ventilation or, commonly, to install a breathing tube. These tubes are important additions in many cases, as physicians have better control over the patient’s respiration with these tubes added through a tracheotomy. However, complications may occur when these tubes are not correctly used after a tracheotomy procedure.

Breathing tubes, or tracheal tubes, are used by doctors to run tubing through a patient’s airway and give air to a patient when they cannot otherwise breathe. This can allow a doctor to provide a patient with more targeted air quality, meaning that a physician can increase the amount of oxygen or other gases to the air. This can prove extremely useful in some cases.

If a physician does not properly install the tube’s connections to the source of these gases, however, a patient will not receive the proper treatment they require. This can prove very problematic for the patient. If the patient requires additional oxygen, for example, they may not receive this important gas and begin to suffocate as a result. This can result in permanent brain damage if the patient survives the ensuing emergency.

If you or someone you love has suffered because of mistake made by a doctor involving a tracheal tube, there may be legal action available against the responsible medical professional. To learn more, contact a detailed medical malpractice attorney.