 Inability to secure the airway , with subsequent failure of oxygenation and ventilation is a life @-@ threatening complication which if not immediately corrected leads to decreased oxygen content , brain damage , cardiovascular collapse , and death . When performed improperly , the associated complications ( e.g. , unrecognized esophageal intubation ) may be rapidly fatal . Without adequate training and experience , the incidence of such complications is high . The case of Andrew Davis Hughes , from Emerald Isle , NC is a widely known case in which the patient was improperly intubated and , due to the lack of oxygen , suffered severe brain damage and died . For example , among paramedics in several United States urban communities , unrecognized esophageal or hypopharyngeal intubation has been reported to be 6 % to 25 % . Although not common , where basic emergency medical technicians are permitted to intubate , reported success rates are as low as 51 % . In one study , nearly half of patients with misplaced tracheal tubes died in the emergency room . Because of this , recent editions of the American Heart Association 's Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation have de @-@ emphasized the role of tracheal intubation in favor of other airway management techniques such as bag @-@ valve @-@ mask ventilation , the laryngeal mask airway and the Combitube . 
