An uncommon adverse effect of parenteral iron is skin staining (see fig.) Despite its efficacy, iv iron administration carries the potential for adverse effects, with venous extravasation being a rare but notable complication 5 iron staining can occur with intravenous infusions if there is extravasation into the surrounding tissue.
Intravenous (IV) iron infusion
Skin staining occurs when there is extravasation or leakage of the infusion into the surrounding soft tissues
This clinical negligence case arose from an extravasation injury during an iron infusion
There was a failure to identify that the cannula had been incorrectly inserted Consequently, the claimant suffered an extravasation injury in which the iron infusion leaked from the vein into the surrounding tissue This caused staining and ongoing pain and weakness in the claimant’s dominant right arm. Skin staining is an uncommon adverse effect that can occur with intravenous infusions if there is clear extravasation into the surrounding tissues, but also in the absence of obvious extravasation
It has been reported with multiple iron preparations and doses. Our team recently recovered damages for a patient who suffered an extravasation injury following an iron infusion This type of injury is caused by the accidental leakage of the infusion outside of the vein affecting surrounding tissues’ rather than ‘medicines’ This can happen during an iron infusion if the canula is not placed into the vein correctly or becomes displaced
