Nerve damage following IV

February 20, 2009

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Intravenous news: The Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) has been sued by a 62-year-old seamstress, who suffered injury to her hand after an intravenous needle was badly inserted while at the Sangre Grande Hospital three years ago.

Annette Hamilton Gladstone, of Red Hill, D’abadie, is a diabetic, and visited the hospital on May 6, 2006, for treatment of an associated condition.

In her claim filed by attorneys Anand Ramlogan and Cindy Bhagwandeen at the San Fernando High Court, Gladstone says a female doctor concluded that it was necessary to administer antibiotics. An intravenous line was inserted into her right hand, which allegedly became bluish in colour.

Gladstone says she noticed during the week following that she was unable to properly use her hand as it was painful, swollen, bruised and there was a loss of sensation. She visited the Port of Spain General Hospital on May 15, 2006, and a clinical examination of her hand revealed that it was swollen, bluish, tender and cold. It was suspected that the condition arose out of a complication with the insertion of the intravenous needle, not into a vein but in the tissue of the arm. An operation was performed on May 16, 2006, to decompress the nerves on the hand and to drain the remaining antibiotic fluid.

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