Physician Describes Daughter's IV Injury During U.K. Hospital Stay

An American pediatric emergency medicine physician reported that her 11-month-old daughter sustained an extravasation injury after receiving phenytoin during treatment for a prolonged febrile seizure at a Scottish hospital. The family had moved from New York City to Edinburgh three weeks earlier.

The physician stated she had requested fosphenytoin, citing U.S. practice, but the infusion proceeded according to local protocol. Three hours later, staff identified the injury. The child underwent emergent surgery, multiple dressing changes, and required two skin grafts and three weeks connected to a wound VAC device.

The physician said she asked the medical team what changes would be made to prevent similar injuries. A month later, she was told that protocol had been followed and no changes would occur. The family returned to New York, where conservative management led to gradual wound closure over eight months.

The physician stated that her experience abroad altered her view of universal health care systems. She wrote that universal care must also include universal safety and accountability. She noted differences in how U.S. and U.K. systems handle adverse events and clinical decision-making under resource constraints.