Medical devices like breathing tubes can help nursing home residents who have serious breathing problems. However, when staff fail to use or care for these devices properly, residents can suffer serious harm. A Peoria County, IL nursing home neglect lawyer can investigate breathing tube misuse and work to hold the facility accountable for any damages.
At Nursing Home Injury Center, we know how serious these cases can be, considering the risks of permanent injury or death. When you work with our firm, you will receive individual attention as we investigate your case from start to finish, providing a small-firm experience with the extensive resources of a large firm.
What Are Breathing Tubes Used for in Nursing Homes?
Breathing tubes are used in nursing homes to help residents who cannot breathe well on their own. Some residents need a tracheostomy tube, which goes through a small opening in the neck. Others may need an endotracheal tube placed through the mouth or nose during an emergency. These devices keep the airway open. They also allow oxygen to reach the lungs.
Residents who rely on breathing tubes often have serious health conditions. Common examples include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, spinal cord injuries, ALS, and long-term ventilator use after a hospital stay. Many of these residents cannot speak clearly or call for help. They depend on staff to check the tube, clean it, and respond quickly when something goes wrong.
Caring for a breathing tube is not a simple task. Staff needs to suction the tube to clear mucus and keep the airway open.. They must keep the skin around the tube clean and dry. They must also watch for signs that the tube has moved, become blocked, or come out. When nursing home staff skip these steps, a resident can struggle to breathe within minutes.
What Happens When Nursing Home Staff Don’t Properly Insert a Breathing Tube?
Problems can happen when a breathing tube is placed incorrectly or when staff fail to properly monitor and care for the tube. An endotracheal tube placed in the esophagus instead of the airway can prevent enough oxygen from reaching the lungs. This can cause brain damage or death if the problem is not found quickly.
Improper insertion can also injure the body directly. A rough or rushed placement can tear the throat, damage the vocal cords, or break teeth. The tube can scrape the windpipe and cause bleeding or swelling. Serious complications can also include a collapsed lung.
Tube problems do not always happen at the moment of insertion. A tube that is not secured well can slip out of place hours later. A tube that is the wrong size can press on tissue and cause sores inside the airway. These injuries can lead to long hospital stays, new surgeries, or permanent breathing problems. In the worst cases, a misplaced tube can be fatal.
Is There a Risk of Infections With Breathing Tubes?
There is a real risk of infections with breathing tubes, especially when nursing home staff do not observe proper hygiene steps. Breathing tubes can make it easier for germs to enter the airway and cause an infection. Germs can travel down that path and cause pneumonia. Residents who use a ventilator can develop ventilator-associated pneumonia, a serious lung infection.
The skin around a tracheostomy site can also become infected. Redness, swelling, pus, or a bad smell near the opening can signal a problem. If the infection spreads to the blood, it can cause sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that needs emergency treatment.
Good infection-control practices can lower the risk of infection. Staff should wash their hands before touching the tube. They should use clean supplies each time they suction. They should change dressings and tube parts on schedule. Raising the head of the bed can also lower the risk of pneumonia. When a nursing home cuts corners on these tasks, residents pay the price.
Can Lack of Training Contribute to Breathing Tube Injuries in 2026?
Lack of training is a contributing factor in breathing tube injuries. Many nursing homes still struggle with staffing shortages. Facilities should make sure that staff members who care for residents with breathing tubes have the training needed for their assigned tasks. Families can also ask how the facility trains staff on airway care.
Breathing tube care requires specific skills. Staff need to know how to suction safely, how to check tube placement, and how to respond when an alarm goes off. They must also recognize warning signs, such as a sudden drop in oxygen levels or a resident who is gasping for air. Without proper training, a worker may freeze, make the wrong choice, or miss the problem entirely.
Poor training is often part of a larger pattern. A facility may fail to provide enough training or supervision. It may fail to supervise new hires. It may also ignore past incidents instead of fixing the cause. When these choices lead to a resident’s injury, the nursing home may be held responsible for the harm.
How Much Is a Breathing Tube Injury Claim Worth in Illinois?
The value of a breathing tube injury claim in Illinois depends on the facts of each case. No lawyer can promise a certain amount. Still, Illinois law gives injured residents a path to recovery. A personal injury claim for a breathing tube injury may include several types of damages, such as:
- Medical bills for hospital care, surgery, and follow-up treatment
- Costs of future care, including long-term ventilator support
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement from scarring or surgical repairs
- Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases
Several factors can affect the final amount. These include how serious the injury is, whether it is permanent, and how healthy the resident was before the injury. The strength of the evidence also plays a large role. Medical records, staff logs, and witness accounts can help show what went wrong. Our nursing home neglect lawyers can review these records and help estimate a fair value for the claim.
It is also important to act quickly because Illinois has strict deadlines for injury claims. Many personal injury claims must be filed within two years. Claims involving medical care can have additional deadlines. An attorney can determine which deadline applies based on the facts of the case (735 ILCS 5/13-212).
Contact Our Peoria, IL Nursing Home Injury Lawyers
A breathing tube injury can turn a delicate health situation into a medical emergency for someone you love. At Nursing Home Injury Center, we hold nursing homes accountable when carelessness leads to real harm. Contact our Peoria County, IL breathing tube injury attorneys or call 309-524-6900 to schedule a free consultation.
