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Strangulation with intravenous tubing: a previously undescribed adverse advent in children
Daniel Garros1, W James King, Barbara Brady-Fryer
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. dgarros@cha.ab.ca
Insights
Intravenous (IV) tubing poses a strangulation risk in infants, with one fatal case documented. Hospitals must implement preventive strategies to mitigate this hazard during IV therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Medical Safety
- Patient Injury
Background:
- Nonintentional strangulation is a known risk in children due to airway vulnerability.
- Infants are particularly susceptible to airway occlusion from low-pressure sources.
Observation:
- Two cases of infant strangulation by intravenous (IV) tubing are presented.
- One of these cases resulted in a fatality.
Findings:
- This is the first documented instance of IV tubing causing strangulation in infants in health science literature.
- Intravenous therapy presents a previously unrecognized adverse event risk in pediatric patients.
Implications:
- Hospitals must recognize the risk of IV tubing strangulation in infants.
- Preventive measures include assessing IV infusion types, adjusting supervision, and modifying equipment.
Abstract:
Nonintentional strangulation in children is a widely recognized risk as a result of the vulnerability of their airway to occlusion by relatively low pressures. We describe 2 cases of strangulation by intravenous (IV) tubing in infants, 1 of which was fatal. This is the first documentation in the health science literature of this as a potential adverse consequence of IV therapy in young children. It is important that hospitals that care for such children recognize this potential risk and implement the appropriate strategies to minimize or eliminate it. Preventive interventions may include ongoing assessment of the need for continuous rather than intermittent IV infusions (saline or heparin locked IV sites), individualized level of supervision according to the child's age and behavior, and engineering modifications to the IV equipment.