Train and educate health care professionals on the risk of air embolisms, ways to reduce the risk, and how to appropriately use infusion devices. When the device detects or senses air in the IV tubing, the device typically stops infusing, and generates an audible and/or visual alarm to alert the device user. Thomas R. Burnside III is a personal injury lawyer who focuses his law practice on the representation of individuals who have suffered injury as a result of automobile collisions, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, work related accidents or other causes. Air or gas embolisms can cause serious and potentially fatal conditions, such as a stroke or heart attack . The existence of an air embolism can sometimes be confirmed by a review of the medical records, especially if a CT scan was performed shortly after symptoms developed. The entire staff is very friendly and welcoming from your first step in the door on day one to your last step out the door when your case is complete. In general, the setting of the air-in-line detector should be considered so that it is sensitive enough to help prevent a harmful amount of air reaching the patient, but not so sensitive that it generates false alarms too frequently. My inital consultation was with attorney, Mr. Garon Muller. This may include having a spare infusion pump and accessories readily available. (required)I have read the Disclaimer and Privacy Policy. Recognize the signs and symptoms of an air embolism such as a sudden onset of chest pain or tightness, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fainting, or confusion. Little is known about the incidence of air embolism after minimal intravenous manipulations, such as the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. Burnside Law Firm LLP offers legal advice concerning IV infiltration injury and IV therapy injury cases. This is known as an “air embolism,” which can be life threatening because it may prevent oxygen from reaching those critical organs. He never made a decision without my input and made me feel like we were partners. The opening in the venous system is typically above the level of the heart. specific patient factors (for example, patient age, patient size, the overall health of the patient). If a delay or interruption of an infusion could cause significant harm to the patient, be sure to have a backup plan in place. If air is allowed to enter venous or arterial systems, consequences can be very severe and result in brain damage, stroke or death. How do you prevent an air embolism in an IV? In rare cases, this could include other neurologic symptoms. Venous air embolism has been reported as a complication of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental trauma. Each case must be evaluated and handled based on the individual merits of that particular case. You must have an opening of some type into the venous system. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. An official website of the United States government, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, Intravascular Air-in-Line and Air Embolism Risks Associated with Infusion Pumps, Fluid Warmers, and Rapid Infusers: FDA Safety Communication, FDA’s Infusion Pump Risk Reduction Strategies, Medical Device Reporting (MDR) regulations, FDA's user facility reporting requirements, Health care professionals who use or who train users on infusion pumps, fluid warmers, and rapid infusers, Health care professionals responsible for maintaining infusion pumps, fluid warmers, and rapid infusers, Patients and caregivers who use or receive treatment with an infusion pump. As medical device technology continues to evolve, many devices used for infusions now have air-in-line sensors. I have known the Burnside family for many years. If you suspect an infusion pump, fluid warmer, rapid infusers or accessory devices are having problems such as, the pump showing signs of breakage or damage, including small chips or cracks, if an unexplained alarm occurs, or if the pump does not function as expected, we encourage you to file a voluntary report through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Air Embolism Air embolism occurs as a result of a large volume of air entering the patient's vein via the I.V. How much air in an IV line is okay and how much could potentially cause harm? THE morbidity and mortality rates from venous air embolism is determined by the volume of air entrained, the rate of entrainment, and the position and the cardiac status of the patient. He made sure my husband and I knew everything that was going on throughout the entire process. We received exceptional service and was very pleased with the outcome. Summary of Problem and Scope: I am beyond satisfied. Before beginning his practice in the representation of injured individuals, Mr. Muller served the community as an Assistant District Attorney... After my car accident they helped me every step of the way! Be aware that some devices have programmable settings for air-in-line sensors, and the threshold of the sensor can be changed depending on the patient population being treated (for example, neonates, adults). In November 2017, I was in a car accident and I decided to seek out legal assistance. Call 800-569-1937 or contact us by e-mail for an initial consultation. If your IV is on an electronic pump, it will automatically stop once the bag is empty. I would definitely use them again! If a device is dropped, or appears damaged (for example, cracked), do not use it and remove it from service. Due to the limited information provided in these reports and the likely presence of significant comorbidities, it is often unclear if a correlation exists between the infusion pump, rapid infuser, fluid warmer, or their accessories and patient outcome. The true incidence of VAE may be never known, much depending on the sensitivity of detection methods used during the procedure. The opening in the venous system is typically above the level of the heart. These alarm sensors help prevent and reduce the risk of air embolism. Recently Thomas was most helpful in getting my check following an auto collision. Between June If you are injured, DO NOT attempt to recoup compensation without the expertise of a trusted, skilled and able law firm to be your voice. Typically, for an air embolism to develop from a central IV line, three factors must be present: Jugular vein IV lines present high risk for air embolism because they provide direct access to the venous system above the heart. Garon Muller was very professional and push for the maximum dollar amount from the insurance company. An air embolism is when air bubbles enter the bloodstream through an artery, blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood, or through veins, which carry carbon dioxide to the heart. Burnside Law Firm is who you want to represent you. Ways in which air can enter the veins or arteries through IV lines: Injuries caused by air embolism can be severe. To discuss the facts of your case and learn more about your legal rights, contact one of the personal injury attorneys at Burnside Law Firm LLP for a free initial consultation. For example: IV tubing should be free from damage such as cuts, kinks, or disconnections before and during use, as these can be a source of air in the tubing. I knew immediately that I wanted Mr. Muller to take my case. Air can escape from the lungs into the blood vessels (arterial gas embolism) or nitrogen bubbles can form in the blood vessels (decompression sickness or "the bends"). the patient’s circulation has resulted in a fatal air embolism. For example, an infusion pump air-in-line sensor setting used in a neonatal or pediatric patient population would likely be more sensitive than an adult patient population due to the patient size differences. When priming accessory devices (such as IV tubing), follow the applicable manufacturer’s instructions for use to ensure the air is completely removed from the system. A sufficient amount of air must enter the system. One of the best experiences I have ever had, friendly staff, my lawyer Mark Williamson was very ho est and detailed in what the procedures he was able to offer. The lethal dose of intravascular air in humans is unknown, but accidental injections of between 100 and 300 ml have been fatal. For example: Be aware of recommended troubleshooting techniques when an air-in-line alarm occurs. tist Fransesco Redi.1 Air embolism as a complication of intravenous (IV) therapy has been recognized since the 19th century. Without oxygen, the tissues or organs become damaged. MDRs are not, by themselves, definitive evidence of a faulty or defective medical device, and cannot be used to establish or compare rates of event occurrence. At Burnside Law Firm LLP, our attorneys are experienced in the investigation of complex medical injury and malpractice cases which can include injury caused by air embolism. If the air-in-line sensor on your device is not working properly (for example, false alarms or failure to alarm), remove the device from service, and follow your institutions policy which may include returning it to a biomedical department, or sending it to the manufacturer for evaluation. 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