Whenever we’re hospitalized, we put our faith in the doctors, nurses, and staff to take good care of us while we’re vulnerable and in pain. However, even skilled professionals can make mistakes, such as common IV insertion errors, which can lead to complications and discomfort.
One of the common features of being hospitalized is receiving fluids or medicines through an IV. It’s so common we barely think about whether it could be dangerous, but there is such a thing as a bad IV stick.
What happens if an IV is not inserted in the vein? If you have been injured from a bad IV stick, you may have a nursing malpractice case. Contact our experienced Kansas City medical malpractice lawyers today. We have won millions for our clients and want to hear about your case.
You’re Not Alone
It’s Okay to Ask Questions About Your Care
Realizing something may have gone wrong during a routine IV insertion is unsettling, especially when you trusted your care team to keep you safe. You don’t have to figure out what happened on your own. Our team is here to listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand your options, with no pressure and no obligation.
Schedule A Free ConsultationIV Insertion Errors: What Kansas City Patients Should Know
IV insertion is one of the most common procedures in any hospital, but when it’s done carelessly, the consequences can follow a patient for months or years. Here’s what to keep in mind if you or a loved one experienced complications after an IV insertion error.
- IV insertion is routine, but a wrong angle, improper catheter placement, or an undertrained staff member can turn a simple procedure into a serious injury.
- Not every complication is malpractice, but negligence in technique, monitoring, or site selection can support a legal claim.
- Warning signs of a poorly placed IV include ongoing pain, numbness, swelling, discoloration, and a burning sensation at the insertion site.
- Our attorneys work with independent medical experts to determine whether an IV-related injury resulted from preventable hospital negligence.
Know About the Complications You Can Suffer from with IV Insertion
What Happens If the IV Is Not in a Vein?
Missing a vein during insertion causes infiltration, a blown vein, or nerve injury. Seek medical advice if the area becomes hot, painful, swollen, red, or dark, depending on skin color.
The intended medicine or fluids won’t reach the bloodstream, leading to ineffective treatment. This is called IV infiltration, and it can cause harm ranging from irritation to fluid overload, infections, nerve damage, stroke, brain injury, or even death.
When an intravenous (IV) injection is not properly administered into a vein, the injected fluids may escape into the surrounding tissues instead of remaining within the bloodstream.
This can lead to localized swelling and tissue damage at the site of the IV insertion. It’s essential to ensure that IVs are correctly placed in veins to prevent these complications and ensure the safe delivery of fluids or medications.
Certain medications require special care when administered by IV because they are irritating or even corrosive. Infiltration of these medications into tissue surrounding an IV can cause second or third-degree burns, permanent scarring, and injuries serious enough to require amputation.
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Can a Bad IV Cause Nerve Damage?
In the event that an intravenous (IV) catheter penetrates a nerve, it can cause temporary or permanent nerve damage.
Following an injury, the nerve will attempt to regenerate; however, recovery is not always possible. IV nerve damage can take anywhere from a few weeks to years to subside, if at all.
How do you know if you have IV nerve damage? See below:
- You experience a shocking sensation when the needle is inserted
- You experience prolonged, periodic pain, burning, numbness, or loss of function surrounding the IV site
- You experience muscle weakness, cramps, or twitching
- You start to drop objects that you are holding
- You experience a buzzing sensation
You can determine if an IV is in the wrong place by observing signs such as intense swelling and noticeable bruising.
Patients are more likely to bruise if multiple IV attempts were needed or if IV failure, such as infiltration, occurred. While a bruised IV site may appear alarming, bruising around the area is common. An IV bruise forms when blood leaks under the skin after an IV catheter is inserted or removed.
These symptoms are indicative of IV infiltration, a condition where fluids or medications are mistakenly delivered into the surrounding tissue instead of the intended vein.
What Will Happen if the Dextrose is Not Dropping?
If a dextrose IV is not dropping, the fluid is not being administered properly. This can lead to complications such as fluid overload, causing headache, high blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. Severe cases may result in tissue damage at the IV site due to fluid buildup from improper needle placement.
What Happens if IV Drip is Too Fast?
Fluid overload can cause headaches, high blood pressure, and breathing difficulties when too much fluid is given too quickly. Adjusting fluid levels typically resolves these symptoms, but the condition can be dangerous. A hematoma occurs when blood leaks from a blood vessel into surrounding tissues.
IV Angle of Insertion
Vary the needle entry angle based on the device and vein depth.
Use a 22-24 gauge catheter at a 10-25º angle for small veins.
Use a larger catheter at a 30-45º angle for deeper veins.
IV Infiltration and Common Errors
If an IV misses a vein, you might feel pain, swelling, or notice bruising at the site. This can increase the risk of infection or tissue damage. Seek medical advice if the area becomes hot, red, increasingly painful, swollen, or discolored.
According to the CDC’s 2011 guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections, some common errors by hospitals and medical staff that can cause IV infiltration or related complications include:
- Failure to evaluate the insertion site daily for signs of irritation or infiltration.
- Failure to immediately remove the IV when infiltration is detected.
- Using steel IV needles when administering certain medications and fluids that can cause tissue death if they should infiltrate tissue.
- Choosing the wrong IV location.
- Neglecting to promptly replace IV catheters that were inserted during emergencies when sterile conditions could not be ensured, or to remove those no longer essential.
By avoiding these common IV insertion errors and following best practices, healthcare professionals can ensure safer and more effective IV access for patients.
Recent IV Infiltration Settlement for $200,000
The Case: Our client, a newborn, sustained a walnut sized scarring injury from infiltration of an IV. The newborn was receiving care in an intensive care unit when the infiltration occurred due to a lack of monitoring. A nurse attempted to hide her failure to monitor the IV by altering the child’s medical chart. We presented both a demand letter and PowerPoint presentation to the defendant hospital that discussed the standards that apply to proper IV monitoring, the nursing failures, photographs depicting the child’s injury and a report from a plastic surgeon describing the necessary surgery and cost to revise the child’s scarring. The case settled before trial for $200,000.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that testimonials or reviews do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter, as the facts and circumstances of each case differ.
Common IV Insertion Errors: Avoid These Mistakes
- Catheter Length:
- Mistake: Using a catheter that is too short.
- Solution: Ensure the catheter length is appropriate for the patient’s vein and the intended purpose. Using a catheter that is too short can lead to complications and discomfort during IV therapy.
- Needle and Catheter Depth:
- Mistake: Failing to insert the needle and catheter deep enough into the vein.
- Solution: Properly assess the depth of the vein and insert the needle and catheter to the correct depth. Shallow insertion may result in infiltration or dislodgment of the IV line.
- Needle Insertion Angle:
- Mistake: Inserting the needle at too steep an angle.
- Solution: Maintain the correct angle of insertion, typically around 15-30 degrees, to avoid complications like puncturing through the vein or causing unnecessary discomfort to the patient.
Here to Listen
Let’s Talk About What Happened to You
Every conversation with our medical malpractice team starts the same way: we listen first. If an IV insertion error left you hurt, confused, or unsure what to do next, we’ll walk you through what your experience means and what steps, if any, make sense for your situation. Reaching out costs you nothing and puts you under no obligation.
Schedule A Free ConsultationInjured By IV Not in Vein? Contact Dempsey Kingsland Osteen Now
It all beings with a call. When speaking with our malpractice attorneys we can help you determine if you have an IV malpractice case or not. If you were injured by a bad iv stick you should call experienced Kansas City IV malpractice lawyers today.
It’s shocking that misconceptions and errors persist when IV therapy is so common. Ideally, IV infiltration shouldn’t happen, and it certainly shouldn’t be allowed to persist for more than 24 hours.
It’s an enormous tragedy that anyone should be seriously harmed or a life lost due to such an easily avoidable hospital error, but it does happen, and we know how to prove medical negligence.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by an IV error, you have the right to answers — and justice. Turn to the medical malpractice attorneys at Dempsey Kingsland & Osteen for the guidance you deserve. Contact us today.
We handle cases in Kansas City, Blue Springs, Raymore, Raytown, Independence, Liberty, Olathe, Mission, Lenexa, as well as the state of Kansas.
If you or someone you love was injured due to an IV improperly inserted, call Dempsey Kingsland Osteen at (816) 484-3776 or contact us via online form. Your initial consultation with our medical malpractice lawyers is free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions About IV Insertion Errors
Most IV-related bruising fades within a few days to about two weeks. Contact your doctor if the pain increases, a lump forms, or the swelling has not improved after one to two weeks, since these can be signs of a deeper injury.
Common warning signs include ongoing swelling, redness, bruising, burning pain, and skin that looks pale or feels cool to the touch. Poor or slow fluid flow at the site can also indicate the catheter was not placed correctly.
Yes. An IV catheter that strikes or penetrates a nerve can cause a shocking sensation, numbness, weakness, or cramping. Recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years, and some nerve injuries never fully resolve.
An IV error may support a malpractice claim if it was placed incorrectly, poorly monitored, or if complications were ignored by staff. Our attorneys work with medical experts to review the records and determine whether the injury resulted from preventable negligence.
Photograph the affected area, keep notes on your symptoms, and tell hospital staff right away if something feels wrong. Afterward, a free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney can help you understand whether your injury qualifies for a claim.
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