Chicago, Illinois IV Infiltration Complication Attorneys

IV injection is a medical procedure for delivering fluids into the body through a direct IV insertion into a patient’s vein. The direct administration introduces drugs and fluids to the bloodstream. The small catheter needle is usually inserted in the hand or arm to deliver medications and fluids separately or simultaneously.

Injection IV therapy allows medical providers to inject fluids using only a syringe. However, the therapy is not 100 percent reliable or safe in the presence of infiltration, which is often considered a natural consequence of routine intravenous therapy.

Were you or a loved one injured by medical malpractice while undergoing the IV infiltration? At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our personal injury attorneys represent injured patients harmed by medical procedures.

Call our infiltration and complication attorneys at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or use the contact form today to schedule a free consultation. Let our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers hold those responsible for causing your IV infiltration injuries legally and financially accountable for their negligence.

Serious IV complications can arise when administering a catheter into the vein, such as IV infiltration, where the medication or fluid is intravenously infused into the surrounding tissue.

A complication of an IV infiltration occurs through medical errors, improper placement, improperly inserted catheters, and medical negligence involving the medical staff.

In some IV infiltration cases, the medication injected intravenously through an extravasation (leakage of fluid) process becomes highly toxic when the drug is inadvertently delivered outside the vein, causing severe problems to surrounding tissue and skin.

Other severe complications of IV infiltration include:

• Severe scarring where the medication makes contact with the skin
• Permanent nerve damage. The affected site nerve damage can result in loss of motor function and sensation
• Skin ulceration or blistering
• Severe burns, where healing requires skin grafting
• Amputation of the affected area
• Impaired or diminished use of an affected extremity

Every patient expects doctors, nurses, and medical facilities to provide the highest level of care during every procedure. However, when substandard care causes serious IV infiltration injuries, the medical staff and facility can be held legally accountable for their neglect.

IV Therapy

IV therapy is a treatment that involves the administration of nutrients, hydration, and other medications through a vein to treat various conditions, including dehydration, malnutrition, and cancer.

IV therapy can also provide relief from the side effects of chemotherapy and other medications.

Medical Malpractice Results in IV infiltration Complications

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist, provides substandard care to a patient resulting in severe injury or even death.

It may be challenging to prove that the medical professional was at fault in some cases. However, if you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, it is essential to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

IV infiltration occurs when an intravenous catheter leaks fluid into the tissues. Vesicant or chemotherapeutic drug extravasation is the most serious IV infiltration complication when the medication leaks out of the vein and into the nearby tissue.

It can cause severe tissue damage, including necrosis (tissue death). Treatment typically involves immediate removal of the catheter and administration of a local anesthetic. Surgery may also be necessary to remove the damaged tissue.

Standard of Medical Care to Keep Patients Safe With IVs

Medical doctors, nurses, and other health care providers must protect and adequately monitor the patient continuously from serious injuries associated with IV infiltration and related complications.

These practices include avoiding placement of IV catheter needles at joint sites, selecting the appropriate size catheter, and following proper procedures before, during, and after IV insertion. In addition, the IV catheter cannot be tightened too much, constricting the patient's blood flow.

To minimize the risk of complications, a medical provider must continuously monitor the patient to detect or identify any IV infiltration emergency.

Routine monitoring can ensure significant blood backflow into the catheter's IV tubing while the liquid fluids are delivered into the bloodstream.

A health care professional must be close by to address any alarm set off by the equipment and check to ensure that the patient is receiving the medication and fluids at the proper infusion rate.

Training the Medical Staff on the Appropriate IV Use

A medical professional must clean the appropriate IV site with an antiseptic solution before inserting the catheter.

To ensure that every IV patient gets a standard of care, the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals at the facility should be fully trained on policies, procedures, and safety protocols on how to use a plastic catheter to deliver fluids and medications effectively.

IV therapy accidents are usually caused by negligence or medical malpractice that could produce devastating lifelong consequences.

In addition, any serious harm to the skin and surrounding tissue can cause significant health issues that must be addressed appropriately by skilled medical professionals.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim or Lawsuit After a Complication Related to an IV

Most victims who have suffered a severe case of IV infiltration can seek monetary compensation through medical malpractice claims or lawsuits to hold those negligent accountable for their actions.

Skilled attorneys can build a strong case, proving negligence when the patient suffers severe medical complications caused by inadequate monitoring, improper placement, defective small catheter needle, or IV complications. Some of these include:

• Necrosis (tissue death) when surrounding affected tissue dies from IV infiltration
• Compartment syndrome, leading to severe pain and discomfort
• Air embolism that could kill the patient
• Overloading fluids
• Loss of limb function at the affected IV site
• Nerve damage caused by IV therapy
• Permanent or long-lasting neurological disorder
• Necrotic tissue-associated amputation
• Spinal cord injury, including quadriplegia or paraplegia
• Deep punctures rupture veins or cause permanent damage to the patient's vein, artery, or tissue surrounding the IV site
• Intravenous therapy delivering the wrong medication or overmedication
• Serious infections that could lead to septic shock, sepsis, or death

Injured patients with severe injuries and surviving family members who lost a loved one through wrongful death can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the healthcare facility, doctors, and nursing staff to recover their damages.

Typically, these cases are resolved with sufficient funds to pay for medical bills, hospitalization costs, lost wages, future lost earnings, lost familial support, pain, and suffering.

Get Legal Help From a Personal Injury Attorney to Resolve Your Medical Malpractice Claim

If you, or a loved one, have suffered an IV infiltration injury, you are likely eligible to receive compensation. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC specializes in medical malpractice cases, including IV infiltration and extravasation claims.

Many of our clients have suffered severe preventable medical complications. Our experienced legal team can investigate every cause of your injury, evaluate your case and determine what parties are responsible.

Our hospital malpractice attorneys can help you pursue your financial claim to ensure you are compensated for your damages.

Call us at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or use the contact form today toschedule a free consultation and create an attorney-client relationship. Let us protect your right to receive maximum compensation and hold the negligent party accountable.

Surviving family members who lost a loved one through medical errors can seek financial compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Qualifying family members typically include spouses, children, parents, and grandparents who need compensation to pay for medical expenses, funeral & burial expenses, lost wages, and future lost earnings.

We accept all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing if we cannot obtain compensation for your damages. In addition, all confidential or sensitive information you share with our medical malpractice law firm remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Resources:

• National Institute of Health – Diagnosis of Intravenous Leakage
• Intravenous Leakage Complications