Surgical Error: Complications After a Tracheotomy

A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure that opens up the windpipe (trachea). It is usually performed in an emergency situation, and done quite rapidly when it is determined to be necessary. If not enough air is getting into the lungs, and you are unable to breathe without help, a tracheotomy may be performed. If your windpipe is blocked by swelling, whether from a severe injury to the neck, nose or mouth, or from a large foreign object, or even by paralysis of the throat muscles, a tracheotomy may become necessary. 

The Procedure

In an emergency tracheotomy, there will be no time to explain either the procedure or the need for it. You will be placed on your back with your face upward, with a rolled-up towel between your shoulder, making it easier for the doctor to see the throat structure. The emergency room physician or surgeon will make a cut in a thin part of the voice box, insert a tube, and connect it to an oxygen bag.

If the tracheotomy is performed in the operating room there will be more time to explain the procedure, and you will be put under general anesthesia. The tracheotomy in this instance  will probably take a bit more time, and include disinfecting the neck and chest area, and placing a surgical drape over the area, then making an incision in the skin of the neck which lies over the trachea. The surgeon will then identify the rings of cartilage which make up the trachea and cut into the tough walls, inserting a metal or plastic tube through the opening, allowing you to breathe. A dressing is placed around the opening, and you will be required to stay in the hospital for three to five days, with a two week recovery time.

Possible Complications

If your tracheotomy was an emergency, there was probably no alternative, as the doctor did the only thing possible to enable you to breathe. There is an overall risk of death due to a tracheotomy of slightly less than 5%, and the risks are higher in children, especially newborns and infants, smokers, alcoholics, obese adults, persons over 60, persons with chronic diseases or respiratory infections, or persons taking muscle relaxants, sleeping medications, tranquilizers or cortisone. If your tracheotomy was not an emergency, there are alternatives such as noninvasive ventilation via a face mask, which carries much fewer risks. Complications from a tracheotomy can include hemorrhage, infection, pneumothorax or tube obstruction. 

Legal Help

If you were the recipient of a non-emergency tracheotomy, and have suffered ill effects and harm from the procedure, you may be entitled to claim surgical error, and receive compensation for your injuries. You should hire a personal injury attorney who is familiar with the particular laws in your state, to guide you through the maze of paperwork you will be subject to once your suit is filed. An experienced attorney can take some of the stress out of your life at a difficult time, and make sure your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve.