Emergency tracheostomy ruled appropriate despite fatal outcome
Issue -
December - 2025, Posted On: 01 December 2025
A woman admitted with severe throat infection and neck swelling died minutes after an emergency tracheostomy performed by an ENT surgeon. Her husband alleged that the doctor operated in haste without waiting for an MRI scan, causing her death, and sought ₹25 lakh in compensation.
Medical records showed that the patient was suffering from Ludwig’s angina—a deep neck infection known for sudden airway obstruction and high mortality if the airway is not secured. During the night her oxygen saturation dropped to 78%, and she developed increasing difficulty in breathing and swallowing.