Complications with IVs
If you’ve been seriously harmed because of a complication with an IV, our lawyers want to hear from you. Please get in contact with us as soon as you can to set up a free consultation so you can learn your rights and what you are entitled to.
IVs are used in medical procedures to deliver liquids directly into a vein. This is typically done for medications or fluids that need to go straight into your bloodstream.
A lot of people need IV therapy for various reasons. It is very frequently used to administer hydration to patients who are hospitalized as well as any medication or vitamins the patient might need. If someone is in dialysis, they will often use medication IV therapy. People in serious accidents who need blood can get a blood transfusion with IVs. Cancer treatments can include IV therapy, as well. And lastly, it’s often used during a routine surgery.
Despite the frequency with which IVs are used in medical settings, there can be risks and complications involved. If you are reading this, you have likely suffered through such complications and deserve compensation.
Risks of IV Therapy
When you receive IV therapy, it is because your doctor has decided that the risks are not greater than the potential benefits that you will receive when you get this treatment. If you suffered damage, however, you might be able to file a medical malpractice claim.
Some reasons why you might be able to is if the IV was placed poorly and it wasn’t monitored the way it should’ve been. You could suffer permanent damage, including disfigurement or loss of function in your extremities, if this happens to you.
If your vein is punctured and the catheter of the needle slips out of the wall of your vein, this is what is known as infiltration. That would mean that the infusion that you were getting is going into your tissue instead of into your vein which means that the medication that you end up with will not have been properly administered and will likely not be effective or as effective as it needs to be.
You might experience some pain and swelling where this happened, as well as bruises and a firm bump. It’s not always clear whether or not infiltration has happened and an examination must be performed in order to determine whether or not this is what happened to you.
Another risk of IV therapy is something called extravasation. This is when fluids leak into the tissue, causing blistering or destroying tissue. This is either with vesicant fluids or chemo drugs.
The most noticeable symptoms and side effects of this is going to be pain and burning where the IV was, but you might also notice that you don’t have as much mobility in that arm, that there is an infection, or that something called tissue sloughing has occurred.
You might experience tissue damage that is irreparable as well as dead tissue, disfigurement and a delay in your healing. In the worst of cases, you end up with amputations. Embolism is also a concern. The symptoms of an embolism include lowered heart rate, trouble breathing, or a blue tint to your skin. When you have an embolism, it can make it harder for you to stay hydrated and extra care needs to be taken to avoid this when inserting and taking out IVs.
Call Our Augusta Injury Lawyers
If you are suffering because of complications after getting an IV, we want to hear from you as soon as possible. You have legal rights and we are here to help you through this to get the justice that you deserve. You can meet with us for a free, first consultation in which we will let you know what your legal rights are and how we can fight to get you justice. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages and injuries related to this IV complication. Call today to set up your free consultation.
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