Image from ParaMedicine101 In December 2012, a West Virginia man suffered angioedema causing tongue swelling due to a not uncommon reaction from lisinopril . Presumably due to airway concern from the tongue swelling, an urgent tracheostomy (cutting a hole in the throat) was performed. The patient later filed suit against the ENT who performed the tracheostomy stating that it was unnecessary as the tongue swelling was getting better. [ link ] Although a tracheostomy is not always perf…