Daniel E. Holloway
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Northside Hospital Atlanta complaint alleges a negligent intubation before a pharyngeal injury and mediastinitis

The complaint alleges that Dr. Lydia Searcy negligently intubated a patient during eye surgery at Northside Hospital Atlanta on November 5, 2022. The intubation injured her pharynx and hypopharynx. She was admitted to the hospital four days later with severe throat pain and swelling. A CT scan showed a collection of air and fluid in front of her spine, from her neck into her chest. Surgery on December 6, 2022, found and repaired the intubation injuries. She developed a retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinitis and spent about six weeks in the hospital. The filing alleges that her injuries resulted directly from the negligent intubation. It alleges the hospital and anesthesiology group failed to properly train and supervise staff.

System
Northside Hospital
Facility
Northside Hospital Atlanta
Providers involved
Northside Hospital, Inc. / Lydia Searcy, M.D. / Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLC
Pattern
Alleged negligent intubation during eye surgery causing pharyngeal and hypopharyngeal injury
Harm
Alleged retropharyngeal abscess, mediastinitis, and prolonged hospitalization

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a negligent intubation caused pharyngeal injury and a serious infection.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. Dr. Lydia Searcy intubated the patient for eye surgery at Northside Hospital Atlanta on November 5, 2022.
  2. She was admitted to the hospital on November 9, 2022, with severe throat pain and swelling.
  3. A CT scan showed a collection of air and fluid in front of her spine extending from the C2 to the T5-T6 level.
  4. On December 6, 2022, surgeons found and repaired injuries to her pharynx and hypopharynx from the intubation.
  5. She developed a retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinitis and spent about six weeks in the hospital undergoing further procedures.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • The complaint alleges that Dr. Searcy performed the intubation negligently, injuring the patient’s pharynx and hypopharynx.
  • The hospital and the anesthesiology group did not adequately train and supervise the staff who performed intubations.
  • The filing alleges that the patient’s injuries and prolonged hospitalization resulted directly from the negligent intubation.
  • The complaint pleads negligence, respondeat superior, and negligent hiring, credentialing, training, and supervision with corporate claims. It seeks punitive damages and attorney’s fees. It attaches an expert affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.

Entities and tags

Northside Hospital AtlantaNorthside Hospital, Inc.Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLCLydia Searcy, M.D.Retropharyngeal abscessMediastinitisFulton CountyAnesthesia and airwayNegligent hiring or supervisionInfectionAnesthesiologyAirway managementOphthalmologic surgery