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Wellstar North Fulton complaint alleges airway-management delay after facial gunshot wound

The complaint alleges that a patient arrived at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the mandible and that providers failed to timely secure the patient’s airway despite the risk that swelling and bleeding would make airway management progressively more difficult. According to the complaint, providers obtained imaging before securing the airway, attempted intubation nearly an hour after arrival, made multiple unsuccessful attempts in the trauma bay, and allowed a less-experienced surgeon to attempt tracheotomy while the patient was oxygen-deprived. The complaint alleges that the patient suffered severe permanent brain damage.

System
Wellstar Health System
Facility
Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center
Providers involved
Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center / Mark L. Gravlee, M.D. / Sherieka S. Duncan, M.D. / Stephen A. McBride, II, M.D. / Woodley Mardy-Davis, M.D.
Pattern
Alleged delay in securing airway after facial gunshot wound and progressive swelling risk
Harm
Alleged prolonged hypoxia, severe permanent brain damage, and physical deficits

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center delayed securing a patient’s airway after a facial gunshot wound, leading to prolonged hypoxia and permanent brain injury.

Chronology

  1. According to the complaint, the patient arrived at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center on March 3, 2023 with a gunshot wound to the right mandible.
  2. According to the complaint, the patient was sent for CT imaging before his airway was secured.
  3. The complaint alleges that the first intubation attempt occurred approximately 50 minutes after arrival.
  4. According to the complaint, the patient’s oxygen-saturation level dropped during airway-management attempts and resuscitation became necessary.
  5. According to the complaint, the patient was moved to the operating room after multiple airway attempts.
  6. The complaint alleges that the patient was oxygen-deprived for approximately 27 minutes during a tracheotomy attempt.

Alleged failures

  • The complaint alleges that providers failed to anticipate that swelling and bleeding would make airway management progressively more difficult.
  • The complaint alleges that providers delayed securing the airway by performing imaging first.
  • The complaint alleges that providers improperly attempted nasal intubation multiple times in the trauma bay rather than in the operating room.
  • The complaint alleges that a less-experienced surgeon was allowed to perform the tracheotomy despite the presence of the attending surgeon.
  • The complaint alleges that the facility failed to implement adequate policies for prioritizing airway protection.

Entities and tags

Wellstar North Fulton Medical CenterMark L. Gravlee, M.D.Sherieka S. Duncan, M.D.Stephen A. McBride, II, M.D.Woodley Mardy-Davis, M.D.Gunshot woundMandibular fractureNasal intubationTracheotomyHypoxiaHypoxic brain injuryDelayed treatmentAirway management failureFailure to prioritize airwayInadequate supervisionEmergency medicineAnesthesiologyTrauma surgeryAirway management

Questions this example answers

What does the Wellstar North Fulton airway complaint allege?

The complaint alleges that a patient arrived at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the mandible and that providers failed to timely secure the patient’s airway despite the risk that swelling and bleeding would make airway management progressively more difficult. According to the complaint, providers obtained imaging before securing the airway, attempted intubation nearly an hour after arrival, made multiple unsuccessful attempts in the trauma bay, and allowed a less-experienced surgeon to attempt tracheotomy while the patient was oxygen-deprived. The complaint alleges that the patient suffered severe permanent brain damage.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, Mark L. Gravlee, M.D., Sherieka S. Duncan, M.D., Stephen A. McBride, II, M.D., and Woodley Mardy-Davis, M.D. It also tags the source-supported entities Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, Mark L. Gravlee, M.D., Sherieka S. Duncan, M.D., Stephen A. McBride, II, M.D., and Woodley Mardy-Davis, M.D.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The complaint alleges that providers failed to anticipate that swelling and bleeding would make airway management progressively more difficult. The complaint alleges that providers delayed securing the airway by performing imaging first. The complaint alleges that providers improperly attempted nasal intubation multiple times in the trauma bay rather than in the operating room.