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IV, or intravenous, therapy is used to administer electrolytes, medications, antibiotics, and other fluids into the bloodstream through a small catheter needle inserted into a vein. While IVs are used widely in the treatment of acute injuries or illnesses and various procedures or surgeries, they are not without risks. Serious complications can arise when IVs are improperly placed, or patients are inadequately monitored.
The Beasley Firm is one of Pennsylvania’s leading medical malpractice law firms and can help evaluate whether you may have a potential claim against a negligent provider. If you or someone you love have suffered harm and losses due to IV infiltration, you may have grounds to pursue legal action. Contact our office for a free consultation.
Note: The Beasley Firm is a personal injury litigation firm handling medical malpractice claims. While we operate with a full team of qualified nurses and doctors to help evaluate legal claims, it is vital that you seek professional care from your medical provider to asses your injuries and receive treatment.
Medicine and fluids can leak into surrounding tissue when an IV is not administered properly and misses the vein. Also known as “IV Infiltration,” this error is harmful and dangerous because it can cause a range of serious and painful medical complications.
Medical complications of IV infiltration include irritation (from over-administration of the fluid into surrounding tissue), damage to nerves, brain injuries or stroke, and even death. Some types of medication can also cause serious burns if the medication is corrosive.
When an IV leaks a vesicant drug (a fluid that causes tissue damage), it is referred to as IV extravasation. Complications from IV infiltration or extravasation can be severe and life-threatening. If left untreated, it can require amputation of the affected arm, necrosis, and permanent loss of function.
Injuries from an IV mistake can range in severity. Because of the type of medication involved, IV extravasation may cause more damage. Complications may take longer to develop with IV extravasation leading to long-term health problems.
Common injuries caused by improper IV administration include:
Note that while some providers may insert needles several times to find a vein, multiple pokes do not constitute negligence or injury. However, an IV that is improperly inserted and left unchecked can cause significant harm.
Treatment for an IV mistake may include debridement of necrotic tissue and skin grafting. In cases of severe swelling that compromises blood flow (compartment syndrome), it may be necessary to complete a fasciotomy surgery that releases pressure and restores blood flow through a long incision.
While some of these treatments may ultimately save the affected body part, they can also cause scarring and exacerbate what can already be prolonged, painful, and expensive recovery.
IV mistakes can pose considerable risks of serious injury or death, especially in the case of IV extravasation involving vesicant medications. For this reason, it is vital for health care providers to properly place and administer IV catheters into the vein and to frequently assess patients to timely detect complications.
The longer infiltration or extravasation remains undetected, the greater the potential for more severe harm. Unfortunately, some medical providers fail to adhere to acceptable standards of their practice when administering IVs or monitoring patients and IV sites.
Individual medical staff and the hospital or facility they work for may be held liable for IV-related injuries. A negligent health care provider may be legally responsible for damages that result from improper insertion, failing to check for inflammation, or failing to take immediate action once an error is discovered.
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line or IV catheter can pose serious health risks, including infection and blood clots. PICC lines must be carefully monitored to avoid devastating mistakes that may prove fatal.
During insertion, if an air bubble becomes trapped, it can enter the bloodstream. A large amount of air forced into the bloodstream can cause severe chest pain and ultimately heart failure.
Whether you have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim depends entirely on the unique facts of your case. Generally, injured patients and families may bring lawsuits against negligent providers who fail to meet acceptable standards of their profession.
In addition to proving substandard care, a plaintiff must prove that proper care would have likely resulted in a better outcome. Finally, medical malpractice victims will need to prove their damages, which can include a range of economic and non-economic losses arising from their injuries.
Damages in malpractice claims may include:
At The Beasley Firm, we’ve cultivated relationships with a network of medical experts who help our attorneys assess clients’ prognoses and what expenses, damages, and setbacks they’re likely to incur. We use this insight to prove our client’s claims and pursue the full amount of compensation they need.
The Beasley Firm is recognized nationally for our work helping victims of medical malpractice seek the justice and financial compensation they deserve.
If you or someone you love has suffered serious harm or loss resulting from IV complications such as infiltration or extravasation, our Philadelphia-based trial lawyers are readily available to discuss your rights and options. Contact our office today at to get started.
Medicine and fluids can leak into surrounding tissue when an IV is not administered properly and misses the vein. Also known as “IV Infiltration,” this error is harmful and dangerous because it can cause a range of serious and painful medical complications. These include irritation (from over-administration of the fluid into surrounding tissue), damage to nerves, brain injuries or stroke, and even death. Some types of medication can also cause serious burns if the medication is corrosive. When an IV leaks a vesicant drug (a fluid that causes tissue damage), it is referred to as IV extravasation.
Burn injuries or blisters of tissue surrounding the IV site
Tissue damage or death (necrosis)
Injuries to nerves
Compartment syndrome
Air embolism
Scarring and disfigurement
The need for amputation or skin grafts
Reflect sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)
Long-term or permanent disability
Individual medical staff and the hospital or facility they work for may be held liable for IV-related injuries. A negligent health care provider may be legally responsible for damages that result from improper insertion, failing to check for inflammation, or failing to take immediate action once an error is discovered.
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line or IV catheter can pose serious health risks, including infection and blood clots. PICC lines must be carefully monitored to avoid devastating mistakes that may prove fatal. During insertion, if an air bubble becomes trapped, it can enter the bloodstream. A large amount of air forced into the bloodstream can cause severe chest pain and ultimately heart failure.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.