Most people have never heard of extravasation injuries until one happens to them or someone they love. An extravasation injury happens when fluids or medications administered through an IV leak from the vein into surrounding tissue. Extravasation injuries are not always caused by medical malpractice, but they often are.
If you have come to this page because you or a loved one was injured, here’s what you need to know about extravasation injuries.
Intravenous therapy is common, but that doesn’t mean it always happens without incident. There are a number of ways in which extravasation can happen, including:
Extravasation is a remote possibility any time an IV is used; for all IV infusions, the rate hovers between 0.1% and 6%, though usually closer to the lower end of that range. The risk is elevated in certain situations, including critical-care settings, pediatric patients, and chemotherapy.
The risk of extravasation injury tends to be higher in chemotherapy settings for a variety of reasons. The drugs administered in chemotherapy are vesicant (tissue-toxic) agents; after all, they are designed to destroy cancer cells. If those chemotherapy agents leave the vein, even a small amount can cause serious injury.
Chemo infusions often take hours, and the extended timeframe increases the risk of catheter displacement. In addition, repeated insertion of a catheter can damage veins over time, making them more susceptible to rupture.
Even when a provider follows protocol and does everything right, a fragile vein can rupture, leading to extravasation. But sometimes an extravasation injury is avoidable, and constitutes chemotherapy malpractice.
Mild cases of extravasation may result only in temporary discomfort or swelling of tissue. More serious cases, including those involving vesicant agents, contrast dyes, or certain antibiotics, can cause painful and sometimes permanent injuries. These include:
Severe cases, or those that are not treated immediately, may require surgical intervention to treat the injury. Early symptoms of extravasation include pain and burning at the IV site; visible swelling; redness; and skin tightness or discoloration. Slowed or stopped IV flow may also signal that extravasation is happening.
If a patient alerts their nurse or technician that something seems to be wrong, the provider should act quickly to address the problem. Depending on the situation and the drug being used, that may mean stopping the infusion, administering drug-specific antidotes, and elevating the affected area. In some cases, it is important to leave the catheter in place, because it may be needed to aspirate the leaked fluid from the site.
Failure to respond promptly can worsen an injury and compound a patient’s suffering. Poor placement of an IV may cause extravasation, but failing to regularly monitor the patient and IV site, ignoring patient complaints, or delaying treatment when extravasation is suspected may also be considered negligence.
As mentioned above, not all extravasation is caused by medical malpractice. That said, much of the time, extravasation injuries are avoidable. Here are some things to consider if you are wondering if your injury was caused by malpractice:
If you suspect that you have an extravasation injury caused by malpractice, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to discuss your concerns.
If your injury was due to negligence, you may be entitled to damages for your economic losses like medical bills and lost wages, as well as for pain and suffering. The only way to know for sure is to speak with a medical malpractice attorney who has experience in these types of cases. To learn more about extravasation injuries and medical malpractice, contact the Fraser Law Firm to schedule a free consultation.
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