A New York Times article discussed breathing tubes (intubation) among the elderly, concluding that the practice may be more dangerous to seniors than previously believed. Since a breathing tube makes speech impossible, should the procedure lead to brain injury, coma, or death – as it often does – family members may miss their final opportunity to speak to their loved one.
Breathing tube mistakes are just one of the many nursing home injuries that can be fatal; a full third of patients over the age of 65 will die after being placed on a ventilator. Data gathered from more than 260 hospitals across the United States looked at more than 35,000 intubation outcomes among patients over the age of 65. Even among the two-thirds who lived through the procedure, only 25 percent ever left the hospital.
The majority of those who survived intubation ended up in intensive care, unable to communicate, with most being constantly sedated. To add to these dismal breathing tube statistics, many elderly patients will suffer severe or fatal brain damage as a result of breathing tube mistakes. If you believe your loved one’s brain damage or death is the result of a breathing tube mistake, speaking to a knowledgeable Peoria, IL nursing home injury attorney can be beneficial.
What Is Intubation?
Intubation is sometimes necessary when a nursing home resident cannot breathe on his or her own. An endotracheal tube (ETT) is inserted into a windpipe, and a small balloon is inflated to ensure the tube stays in place and that air can be delivered to the person’s lungs. ETTs are often powered by ventilators but may also be used with a bag that is manually squeezed by a healthcare provider in an emergency.
Breathing tubes can be life-saving devices when used correctly. However, when a breathing tube is placed improperly or not secured, severe injuries caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain can occur. If your loved one suffered brain damage or passed away because of a breathing tube mistake in a nursing home, you may be able to take legal action on his or her behalf against the nursing home.
What Medical Conditions Could Precipitate the Use of a Breathing Tube?
Intubation is often used for elderly residents in nursing homes in situations such as:
- To bypass a portion of a blocked airway.
- To support breathing for residents with pneumonia, heart failure, emphysema, COPD, or other types of respiratory issues.
- To prevent fluid from getting into a resident’s lungs following stomach bleeding or a stroke.
- To keep the airway open while providing medications, oxygen, or general anesthesia in a hospital setting.
What Causes Intubation Errors in a Nursing Home?
Intubation is a delicate process that requires skill and attention. Nursing home staff who are inadequately trained or are not paying close attention can make mistakes when inserting a breathing tube. These mistakes can reduce the amount of oxygen delivered to the resident’s lungs and to the brain. Cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen to the brain, leads to brain cell death within just five minutes. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for 10 minutes or longer, brain death occurs.
Cerebral hypoxia can also occur if a breathing tube becomes dislodged or blocked. Mucus or saliva can clog a breathing tube, reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to the resident. Nursing home staff must be vigilant for signs of breathing tube problems. A resident who is placed on a breathing tube should be regularly monitored for signs of distress or low oxygen saturation levels. Monitoring a nursing home resident who has been intubated can be the difference between life and death.
Breathing tubes must be constantly monitored to avoid clogging or dislodging. Breathing tubes must also be properly sanitized before insertion to avoid serious infections, including sepsis. When a breathing tube is not properly inserted, the vocal cords, trachea, and throat can be damaged, or air can leak into the chest cavity, making breathing difficult. Poor calibration of the oxygen flow equipment can result in damage to the lungs and brain.
Common Nursing Home Mistakes That Can Contribute to Breathing Tube Issues
When a nursing home fails to adhere to federal guidelines for staffing levels, resident injuries and death can occur, including failure to monitor an intubated resident. Understaffed nursing homes or those with poorly trained staff may fail to follow proper sanitation procedures that reduce the risk of infection.
If medical staff at a nursing home are rushed, understaffed, or improperly trained, they may fail to listen for abnormal breathing sounds or fail to see if there is a lack of tube fogging. Staff should also ensure the patient has regular chest X-rays to ensure proper positioning of the breathing tube. Breathing tubes must be just as carefully removed as inserted, and when a breathing tube becomes dislodged or disconnected, injury can result.
How Can You Prove a Breathing Tube Error Resulted in Brain Damage or Death?
Proving brain damage or death is the direct result of a breathing tube error can be difficult if you did not personally witness the actions of the staff. This is the primary reason why hiring an experienced nursing home injury attorney is so important. Your attorney will work closely with you to gather the necessary evidence needed to build a solid case. Family members may have evidence of substandard care if they happened to be present when the tube became clogged, but staff failed to respond or if the tube was not flushed during feeding.
Nursing Home Injuries and Deaths Caused by Negligence
Nursing home staff have a duty to act with a reasonable degree of caution and skill. If a nursing home’s failure to provide adequate medical care to a resident causes injury or death, the nursing home may be liable for damages. If your loved one suffered brain damage or died because of nursing home negligence, you have the right to file a claim against the facility. A personal injury claim or wrongful death claim against a nursing home cannot undo your loved one’s suffering or make up for a tragic death. However, a claim may be used to hold the nursing home accountable and recover financial compensation for damages.
Contact our Peoria, IL Nursing Home Injury Lawyers
The skilled Peoria, IL nursing home injury attorneys at Nursing Home Injury Center are dedicated to holding negligent nursing homes accountable when their actions lead to a resident’s injury or death. Our firm is a small division of a much larger firm. This means our clients receive highly individualized attention while retaining the benefits and resources of a large law firm. Call our office today at 309-524-6900 to set up a free initial consultation to learn more about our services.
