Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

For many nursing home patients who cannot breathe without assistance, a breathing tube can serve as a lifeline. The tube is usually inserted into the trachea through the nose or mouth and attached to a ventilator or a manual resuscitator. Patients with breathing tubes usually cannot speak because the tube goes through the vocal cords. They will also likely have to drink and eat through a feeding tube or IV.

In addition to making sure that the breathing tube is properly inserted into a patient—improper insertion is an all too common error that happens—nursing home workers must make sure that the tube is regularly suctioned so that mucus is removed and doesn’t clog up the patient’s lungs. Nursing employees and caregivers also need to make sure that the patient’s ability to cough is not impaired and that his/her specific nutritional needs and hydration and humidity levels are addressed. Otherwise, health complications, including infection, can result.

Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Negligence
It is imperative that the nursing home workers that are tasked with caring for patients with breathing tubes are properly trained and skilled at dealing with this particular medical device. Failure to monitor patients with breathing tubes for signs of distress, choking, pulmonary problems, or discomfort, and/or the failure to clear and clean the breathing tubes can lead to serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury, respirational pneumonia, serious distress, and even death.

You can sue an assisted living facility for Chicago nursing home neglect if the staff’s failure to provide the proper nursing care caused serious injuries, health complication, or fatality.

Related Web Resources:
Science news articles about 'breathing tubes', Esciencenews.com

Nursing Home Care, CDC