IV infiltrations and other forms of treatment error can cause catastrophic injuries to patients. Injuries that doctors could have easily prevented.
Luckily, educated patients have the power to protect themselves. By knowing the risks associated with IV treatment and how medical malpractice fits into the picture, you can be prepared if something goes wrong.
In this article you will learn:
- IV Therapy Common Complications
- IV Errors That Constitutes Medical Malpractice
- Preventing IV Treatment Errors
- IV Error Injury? Here’s What To Do.
IV Therapy Common Complications
Believe it or not, IV treatment doesn’t always go according to plan.
Shockingly, studies show that the average success rate of IV therapy is only about 50%. Which means roughly half of IVs don’t work as intended on first attempt!
One of the most common problems with IV therapy is infiltration.
It occurs when fluid administered through an IV leaks into surrounding tissue instead of entering the vein. This can happen if a catheter falls out of place or punctures through the vein.
Patients experience swelling, pain and damage to the surrounding tissue as a result. Severe cases can even lead to permanent injuries.
Needless to say, infiltration is not the only complication that can occur during IV treatment. Patients should be aware of:
- Extravasation: Medications leaking into nearby tissue. Symptoms often include blistering or skin destruction.
- Phlebitis: Inflammation of the vein. Characterized by warm to the touch skin around the IV site.
- Infection: Caused by improper insertion or lack of monitoring.
- Air embolism: An air bubble entering into the bloodstream which could cause it to block off.
When any of these situations are preventable by properly following protocol, patients suffer as a result.
Failure to monitor IV infiltration is just one example of how medical malpractice plays a role. If you or a loved one were injured as a result of negligent IV care, you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice claim. Contacting a Florida IV infiltration lawyer is always a good idea if you want to learn more about your rights.
IV Errors That Constitute Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice shines bright when it comes to IV complications.
The thing is… not every medical mishap during IV treatment is grounds for a medical malpractice claim. In order to prove negligence, a patient must show that the hospital or staff did not provide the proper standard of care.
Let’s break that down.
Medical negligence during IV treatment can look like many things:
- Improperly inserting a catheter
- Failure to monitor the IV site for swelling or pain
- Not taking action soon enough when infiltration occurs
- Untrained staff operating on IV patients
Failure to properly monitor IV infiltration has a recorded incidence rate of 23.9%, making it the number one cause of IV catheter failure. That’s an unacceptable number.
Medical providers have a duty of care to their patients.
When errors are made that can easily be prevented by following protocol, real injuries occur. Patients who suffer at the hand of negligent medical care should be compensated for their injuries.
IV Treatment Errors Patients Should Watch Out For
Patient education is your best friend when dealing with IV treatment.
Naturally, most patients are not aware of what goes on behind the scenes. They trust that the medical professionals taking care of them are doing their job correctly. While this is normally the case, taking matters into your own hands can go a long way.
- Ask questions about the medications and IV fluids being administered.
- Keep an eye on the IV site and surrounding tissue for changes.
- Notify medical staff if you feel pain, burning, or anything unusual at the IV site.
- Ask medical staff to frequently check the IV site for changes.
These are simple steps anyone can take to help ensure their IV treatment is running smoothly. Each of these actions have helped patients catch issues with their treatment before serious damage was done.
Don’t be afraid to speak up.
IV complications can become very serious, very quickly. Patients who are under sedation, elderly, or very young may be unable to speak up for themselves. It’s the responsibility of medical staff to monitor these patients for signs of infiltration or other problems.
What To Do If You Have Experienced An IV Error
As mentioned above, some IV injuries can become life altering.
IV infiltration can cause long term scarring, permanent nerve damage and compartment syndrome. There have even been cases where victims had to have limbs amputated.
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to improper IV care, here is what you should do:
- Seek medical attention right away. Have the injury documented by a doctor.
- Request your medical records. These will include who performed your IV treatment and what was administered.
- Take pictures of the injury and write down everything you remember about what happened.
- Contact a medical malpractice attorney that specializes in IV injuries.
Time is of the essence.
Statute of limitations apply to all medical malpractice lawsuits. If too much time has passed the opportunity to file for compensation may be lost.
IV injuries can cause patients to suffer permanent disabilities, costly medical bills, severe pain and more. No patient should ever be left to suffer because of negligent care.
Conclusion
Millions of IVs are administered daily and yes, most of them are successful.
Due to how commonplace IV infiltration and other treatment errors are, many patients are unaware of their rights. If you or a loved one were injured due to negligence, you deserve to know that you have options.
Let’s review:
- IV complications are more common than you might think
- Medical negligence can cause even routine procedures to be very dangerous
- Stay informed on your IV treatment and speak up when problems arise
- Seek medical attention immediately and keep records if you believe an IV error has occurred
- Consulting with a medical malpractice attorney is the first step to filing a claim
No one wants to think about being injured by medical professionals. However, being prepared for the worst can make all the difference in these situations.
