Malcolm L. MacGregor | August 24, 2026 | Personal Injury Blog
If you need to receive intravenous medications or fluids, you expect the medical professional providing these services to do so correctly. However, mistakes sometimes occur and can lead to leaks. This is called IV infiltration. Although it may not seem like a significant issue at first, it could cause a variety of severe injuries, including nerve damage, burns, and amputation risks.
What Is IV Infiltration?
IV infiltration is an accidental leakage of intravenous medications or fluids from a vein to the surrounding tissues. It is often the result of the needle or catheter slipping out of place.
If the vein is damaged during the insertion of the needle, that, too, could cause a leakage.
Some of the most common symptoms of IV infiltration include:
- Tight feeling around the site
- Swelling around the IV site
- Skin that feels cool to the touch
- Redness or paleness around the site
- Pain or discomfort at the site
A patient’s veins can be thin enough to result in these injuries, or the person may have shifted or jerked, causing the IV to fall out of place. All too often, however, IV infiltration occurs because of medical malpractice. When dealing with older patients in nursing homes, the cause may even be nursing home abuse.
Complications of IV Infiltration
Even if the substance that leaks into your surrounding tissues is just saline, it can result in catastrophic injuries, including wrongful death. A common problem you could experience is tissue damage. There could be chemicals that burn the site around the IV, causing blistering and severe pain.
Swelling can also occur and could put a significant amount of pressure on veins, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Too much pressure can prevent blood from reaching the site, potentially resulting in the tissues not receiving the oxygen and nutrients they need. This is called compartment syndrome. Amputation could be the only way of easing the pressure.
Nerve damage can occur from IV infiltration. Fluid pressure on the nerves can cause loss of sensation, tingling, and lasting pain.
Some of the most serious injuries you can sustain if you experience IV infiltration are infections. Bacteria can enter through the damaged tissue and cause systemic infections that could be life-threatening. If sepsis develops, the impacted body part will likely need to be amputated.
In instances when the substance in the IV is a muscle relaxant, serious muscle weakness can occur. This could potentially lead you to struggle with breathing.
What to Know About Medical Malpractice Claims After IV Infiltration
If a healthcare provider failed in their duty to provide the standard level of care, you could be entitled to begin a medical malpractice claim. Keep in mind that if another provider would have made the same mistake or the injury was in some way impossible to prevent, you will not be able to file for malpractice.
Contacting an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help ensure you understand your options and don’t lose the right to pursue full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact the Scranton Medical Malpractice Lawyers at McDonald & MacGregor, LLC for a Free Consultation
IV infiltration malpractice cases are complex because they require proving that another medical professional would not have made the same mistake that led to your injuries. To make this process easier and ensure your case is thoroughly prepared, you need an attorney to assist you. With legal representation, you have the chance to maximize your claim.
For help, contact McDonald & MacGregor, LLC to schedule a free case evaluation with a skilled Scranton medical malpractice lawyer. We proudly serve Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Luzerne County, Lackawanna County, and surrounding areas.
McDonald & MacGregor, LLC
220 Penn Ave Suite 320, Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 209-7062
Scranton Office
220 Penn Ave Suite 320, Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 209-7062
