Multi-million dollar settlements have been paid to people who were seriously injured due to defective endotracheal tubes, intubation errors, and other serious medical mistakes.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting endotracheal tube induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or a loved one died from endotracheal tube misplacement or an intubation error, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
California County Pays $12 Million Settlement After “Wrong Pipe” Intubation
In April 2022, Riverside County paid a $12 million settlement to the family of a woman who suffered brain damage after hospital staff botched her intubation during a surgery for breast cancer. The tube was placed down her esophagus instead of her trachea, sending oxygen to her stomach instead of her lungs. The woman needs full-time nursing care and lives in a facility for people with brain injuries.
Common Types of Intubation Errors
- Failing to properly position the tube
- Failure to recognize esophageal intubation
- “Wrong pipe” intubation — inserting the tube into the patient’s esophagus instead of windpipe, sending oxygen to the stomach instead of lungs
- Tube disconnects from oxygen supply, or becomes kinked or bent
- Tube is over-inflated or collapses
- Tubing punctures the lungs or causes internal injuries
- Endotracheal tubing is defective or damaged
Investigation Finds 12 Patient Deaths From “Wrong Pipe” Intubations
In emergency medicine, an esophageal intubation is a “never event,” which means that it should never happen — but an investigation by ProPublica discovered that in Rhode Island, 12 patients died within 3 years when a breathing tube was mistakenly placed in the esophagus, essentially suffocating them to death by sending oxygen to their stomach rather than their lungs.
Endotracheal Tube Lawsuits
A growing number of people have filed lawsuits for serious injuries and deaths that were caused by endotracheal tubes. Some of these lawsuits involve defective endotracheal tubes that were recalled. Other lawsuits involve medical malpractice when healthcare professionals made a mistake and hurt a patient during an intubation.
Endotracheal Tube Recalls
There have recently been several high-profile recalls for endotracheal tubes after patients were injured or killed. Here are two examples:
- Medtronic Silicone-Based Electromyogram (EMG) Endotracheal Tubes: The tube may not ventilate properly, which can block a patient’s airway and cause serious injuries from oxygen deprivation, brain damage, or death.
- Teleflex Hudson RCI Sheridan Endotracheal Tubes: There were 4 patients who died and several patients who were seriously injured because the endotracheal tube disconnected from the breathing circuit, causing the patient to lose oxygen.
What is Intubation?
Endotracheal intubation is a medical procedure in which a tube is placed through the patient’s mouth or nose into the windpipe (trachea). In an emergency, the tube is placed through the mouth.
What is an Endotracheal Tube?
Endotracheal tubes are used to open a patient’s airway so that a doctor can give the patient oxygen, medicine, or inhaled gases (such as anesthesia).
Endotracheal tubes may be used to help with breathing by connecting the tube to a mechanical ventilator. This is common when patients are undergoing surgery or having trouble breathing due to an injury or serious illness, such as pneumonia.
What is the Risk?
Intubation errors and defective endotracheal tubes pose serious, life-threatening risks, including:
- Uvular necrosis
- Lack of oxygen
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal bleeding
- Nerve damage when tubing punctures internal tissues
- Heath problems
- Infections
- Punctured lung
- Loss of consciousness
- Death
What is Uvular Necrosis?
Uvular necrosis is a rare but potentially deadly complication that can occur when an endotracheal tube damages the uvula (the fleshy hanging ball at the back of the throat). Patients may experience symptoms such as sore throat, trouble swallowing, or gagging. In severe cases, the flesh becomes infected, necrotic, or very painful.
Do I have an Endotracheal Tube Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting endotracheal tube induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or a loved one died from endotracheal tube misplacement or an intubation error, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
