Protecting the Airway and the Physician: Lessons from 214 Cases of Endotracheal Intubation Litigation

Figure 5

Most cited factors in malpractice litigation. Perm = permanent injury, Emerg = emergent intubation, Anoxic = anoxic brain injury, Consort = loss of consortium, Surg = required reparative surgery, Work = employment/income affected, Prolong = prolonged intubation, Delay = delayed intubation, Esoph T = esophageal intubation, Re-tube = reintubation, Recog = delayed recognition of complication, Hoarse = hoarseness, Method = other method should have been used, IC = perceived deficit in informed consent, Trauma = traumatic intubation, Incorrect = “incorrect intubation” (unspecified), Asp = aspiration, Fail = failed intubation, Early = premature extubation, Hx = neglected medical history, Unn. = unnecessary intubation, TS = tracheal stenosis, Teeth = injury to teeth, E Perf = esophageal perforation, VC = vocal cord injury, Displaced = displaced endotracheal tube, Size = incorrect ET tube size, Self-Ext. = self-extubation by patient.