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Phenegran Story

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Posted 10/7/2008 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
 

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2008/10/05/arena.scotus.drug.case.cnn

 

Here is a story about a VT woman who lost her arm due to IV phenegran. 

Posted 10/7/2008 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
RELAX, folks! There were some serious mistakes made w/the administration of the IV phenergan. Properly administered phenergan has been a BLESSING for many of us for years and years.

As I remember it: the IV phenergan accidentally infiltrated an artery.

Phenergan's PH is not neutral. I forget if it is higher or lower. Undiluted or improperly diluted it can STING on administration, it can cause superficial thrombophlebitis, it can cause a blood clot.

It should be properly administered via a small bag of diluent such as NS, or at the very least diluted w/10 ccs of NS and administered at a port high up the line rather than at the site of the IV set and administered slowly.

The same holds true for IV Toradol which is becoming more and more popular, especially in hospitals, for pain relief w/o the the narcotic side effects of the older IV pain relievers such as morphine and more effective. Toradol is an NSAID.

Posted 10/7/2008 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks CT. I am not asking for people to avoid the drug altogether but to be educated about the risks and choices. It was not put into an artery in her case. It was put in IV and should have probably been IM only.
Posted 10/7/2008 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I like to see the warnings. It is really good to know just how easily the doctors can go wrong and what to watch for. I plan on being a really difficult patient!
Posted 10/8/2008 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
In 2001 I was in the hospital and had Phenegran for nausea put in my left had as an iv and it infiltrated. My hand was swollen and had a red mark on it. It was iced over and the swelling went down. When I was discharged the nurse said I may want to have a doctor look at my hand at some point. By the time I saw my GI (about 1 week later). My hand was looking strange and sore. He said I need to refer you to a hand surgeon. By the time I saw a hand surgeon my skin was black and he put me on antibiotics and I ended up having outpatient hand surgery a week later.
Posted 10/8/2008 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
The hospital risk management department ending up handling the situation. This was at a top hospital in the Phoenix area so things can happen anywhere.
Posted 10/8/2008 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
As someone who had phlebitis thanks to a phenegan push in my IV, I think it's good that everyone is aware. Seems like a lot of the medical community isn't, because I've had it administered unsafely a few different times! I'm not sure why it isn't standard protocal to do it the right way, everywhere.

It has been a blessing though, because when I get it, I really NEED it in the ER. I just wish they'd be more careful!
Posted 10/9/2008 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Unless this is another woman, according to a nurse's forum, the IV did infiltrate an artery.
Posted 10/9/2008 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
News stories get things wrong all the time, but I'm fairly sure this one said they were aware of the risk if it went into an artery but that this one didn't. Doesn't mean the story is accurate though, or it could just be another women. I don't have time to rewatch the video right now. I guess just to be safe I would ask for it IM over IV personally. I had compuzine (sp?) IM before no problem but had a crazy reaction when I had it IV.
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