Death by IV Catheter - Audio

Susan Masoorli is an intravenous therapy expert witness. This course will assist attorneys & LNC's involved in litigation after an air embolism or IV catheter infection occurs, as well as healthcare clinicians interested in proactive prevention.

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Program Description

IV therapy is often an essential component of medical treatment, yet carries risks that can be life threatening. An air embolism is a medical condition caused by oxygen bubbles in the bloodstream. Death may occur if a large amount of air becomes lodged in the heart, stopping blood flow. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has identified air embolism as one of the preventable “never events” for which reimbursement will be denied. Learn why this condition is such a swift killer, and what should be done to prevent unnecessary deaths. The second never event and killer is an IV catheter-related infection, which causes a high death rate. The presenter discusses the risks, consequences, and preventive aspects of sepsis. She focuses on the liability aspects of both of these conditions.

The presenter is an intravenous therapy expert witness who educates nurses how to avoid air embolism through both peripheral and central venous access devices. The content will assist attorneys and legal nurse consultants who are involved in litigation after an air embolism or IV catheter infection occurs, as well as healthcare clinicians interested in knowing how to prevent patient deaths from these conditions.

Evaluation and Post-Test for CEUs (pdf)

Presenter

Susan Masoorli RN is a Philadelphia-based president and founder of Perivascular Nurse Consultants, a company that provides infusion training and direct patient care related to the insertion and maintenance of all types of vascular access devices. Susan is an expert witness in infusion related care, and has reviewed over 200 cases in the last 18 years. She has written extensively about IV therapy.

Sue Masoorli answered these questions:

  • How long have air embolism issues been of concern?
  • What are air emboli?
  • Can they be detected by diagnostic testing?
  • What are some key ways in which air can get into the system?
  • How do those mechanisms relate to the standard of care?
  • Why do manufacturers offer Luer slip devices if these are more dangerous?
  • How do holes get into IV tubing?
  • What precautions should be followed when a central catheter is removed from the vein?
  • What is an occlusive dressing?
  • What should the patient be instructed to do during central catheter removal?
  • What emergency equipment should be at the bedside when a patient has a central catheter in place?
  • What are nurses expected to do if a confused patient is trying to pull out lines?
  • What are the symptoms of an air embolism?
  • How quickly can a patient die of an air embolism?
  • Is there any way to get the air out?
  • In the cases that you’ve been involved in as an expert, what has been the outcome for the patients who have gotten air in their system?
  • What types of catheters are considered high risk for air emboli?
  • What factors have to be present for an air embolism to occur?
  • What are the key legal issues that seem to come up in establishing the negligence or the defense aspects of a particular air embolism case?
  • Are air embolism cases difficult for the plaintiff to win?
  • How common and costly are air embolism cases?
  • What is the impact on the patient of getting sepsis from an IV catheter?
  • Is it difficult to establish liability with a catheter related infection?
  • What key step in IV catheter insertion is not commonly employed?
  • What does “stop the line” mean?
  • How costly are IV catheter related infections?
  • Are there ways to increase compliance with hand washing?
  • What is an easier aspect of liability to prove related to IV catheter sepsis?
  • What are some classic symptoms that would be seen in somebody who is developing sepsis from an IV catheter?
  • Which two groups of patients are at high risk for problems caused by removal of PICC lines?
  • Which two central catheter insertion sites have the highest risk of infection?
  • What are your recommendations for avoiding IV catheter-related sepsis?
  • From the liability perspective, if an attorney has a case involving an IV catheter line, what suggestions would you provide to the attorney who is trying to determine if there is indeed liability associated with that catheter-related sepsis?

Learn more at this Link!