Our California skilled nursing home attorneys handle a significant amount of cases related to breathing tubes. In nursing homes, residents who have trouble breathing on their own may require a breathing tube. A breathing tube, or endotracheal tube, can be used for multiple situations where a patient needs assistance breathing. Most nursing home residents who require a breathing tube also require the use of a ventilator. For these patients, a breathing tube and ventilator allows staff to remove mucus from the resident’s lungs and keeps the person alive.
An endotracheal tube is provides a patient with oxygen during artificial respiration. The tube, which is attached to a breathing machine (ventilator) or breathing bag (manual resuscitator), is placed into the trachea (windpipe) through the mouth or nose and is held in place by tape or soft straps. Usually, a breathing tube is only used for short periods of time; if a patient requires a breathing tube on a more long-term basis, the attending physician might recommend a tracheostomy tube.
Because the tube passes directly through the vocal cords, a patient with an endotracheal tube is usually unable to speak. This can be very frustrating for residents because it is harder for them to communicate with nursing home staff. Additionally, a patent on a breathing tube cannot eat or drink because it could cause choking. Instead, residents on an endotracheal tube receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous (IV) tube or feeding tube. These limitations imposed by breathing tubes can sometimes result in terrible accidents due to a patient’s lack of ability to communicate or a care taker’s negligence in proper care. If a loved one from your family has been hurt or injured as a result of a breathing tube mishap, our San Diego residential care facility lawyers can help. Contact our elder abuse attorneys today with the details of your case.
Nursing homes are responsible to take precautions to ensure that endotracheal tubes do not become clogged. The tube must be suctioned from time to time to remove mucus from the patient’s lungs. Nursing homes are also required to ensure that breathing tubes do not become displaced, and if they are, are required to properly reinsert them. When the staff members of a nursing home neglect to properly monitor these tubes, disastrous results can occur. Our San Diego skilled nursing home lawyers have seen numerous cases in which the lack of proper breathing tube care has resulted in a patient’s death.
A tracheostomy tube can also be placed into a patient’s throat to help a resident breathe. With a tracheotomy, a surgeon creates a hole in the front of the neck that goes into the trachea. Such a procedure might be required because of an emergency situation where the airway is suddenly blocked or impaired, the resident suffered an injury to the face or neck, or when a resident requires a ventilator for long-term breathing assistance.
To reduce the risk of complications, most tracheotomy procedures are planned procedures performed in a hospital setting. The benefits of using a tracheostomy is that the patient can still talk and is often more comfortable than the use of an endotracheal tube. Many nursing home residents require either breathing tubes or tracheostomy tubes due to difficulty breathing and can be a short-term or a long-term solution for a resident. Nursing home staff must be properly trained to ensure that such tubes remain clean and free of mucus. Serious complications can occur if the staff allows the residents to become agitated and displace their breathing tubes or if the facility fails to provide regular maintenance to assure a clear airway.
To speak with a qualified California residential care facility attorney, call Berman & Riedel, LLP today at (858) 350-8855. Our attorneys will be more than happy to provide you and your family with an initial free consultation to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the care that an elderly loved one is receiving. For more information about the firm’s San Diego skilled nursing home lawyers, past settlements and awards, and types of cases that Berman & Riedel, LLP handles, visit the firm’s main elder abuse and neglect website at www.preventelderabuse.com.
