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Old 04-03-2007, 08:34 PM   #1
imlesa
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: minnesota
Posts: 2
PICC line broken/left in my 5yr old. Help!

HUGE problem here...long story short, A Dr. did a PICC line to help an infection in 2004. We just found out last week from a Xray that the wire to guide the line in the blood vein was left or broken in his blood vein near his lung/heart. It's 7 inches long.

A surgen will attempt to remove it next week (not the DR who put it there) its been in my now 8-almost 9 yr old son for just over 3 years.
I'm looking for someone that has had this problem with a DR leaving or breaking off the PICC line guide wire in the blood vein.

Is it safe to remove it after 3 1/2 years? Should I leave it in him? What are the risks either way? Whats your story?

Should I SUE that dang DR for not measuring and dub checking his "things" b4 & after the attempt (which didnt work!! He ended up putting a regular IV in after making hamburger out of my sons arms & chest.)

Thanx for any and all help!
Loving mother
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Old 04-03-2007, 10:02 PM   #2
slsmith1122
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Re: PICC line broken/left in my 5yr old. Help!

i saw that happen in an icu one time, however, the RN pulled it out after a week. I tried to report it, but was told to keep quite. So yes, i would say you would get a settlement.
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Old 04-04-2007, 01:28 PM   #3
feelbad
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Re: PICC line broken/left in my 5yr old. Help!

Make certain to document everything and obtain copies of all things related to the actual insertion(placement) if the picc.what this doc did was indeed pretty sick and possible malpractice.my son had a picc line for two weeks for a CMV virus he ended up with post liver transplant.the interventional rad who placed this picc in my son did a great job with no problems in removal.it sounds to me like the intrventional rad who worked on your son very obviously didn;t know what in gods name he was doing.this isn't a huge procedure,really.

If i were you,i would actually contact the attorney BEFORE this is removed just so he can make certain that everything this new doc does is well documented.was this area where the line now is actually the place where he ended up inserting the line or did that guide wire actually migrate to this area eventually just over time?either way,this DOES need to be removed,or it could possibly start forming clots,and that could cause him a whole set of new problems.he should possibly already be on some sort of a blood thinning type med right now.i don't want to scare you,but you really DO need to speak with the doc who is planning on removing this about just the clot risks and anything that he may want your son to do right now.there is just something about metal and blood together that can create clotting issues,it all depends mostly on what was used and where it is.i know myself,i am forever going to be on baby aspirin now,just because of having the metal coils inside my brain.this is just something you really do need to find out for your sons overall best health,thats all.

the only reason i knowabout the clot risks with something in your artery or veins is that i have had platnum coils placed inside a brain aneurysm in the past and was told about the risk factors.this could possibily be different if this is actually in a vein and not part of the bigger higher pressure circulation,but at the very least,you DO need to know if there are any major risk factors for your child til this is actually taken out.any really experienced interventional radiologist/cardiologist should not have a huge problem in retrieving the wire,really.just call that rads office and speak with his nurse,believe me,they know ALOT about these things since they are the ones who answer all questions and set up the actual procedures.i was very lucky to have one of the best rads working on my brain aneurysm.please keep us posted as to what happens next.i wish you all the luck in the world with your son.FB
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Old 04-13-2007, 12:41 AM   #4
imlesa
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Re: PICC line broken/left in my 5yr old. Help!

Update...

My son had the surgery this week. The Dr went in the groin area in both legs to do the attempt. He grabbed the wire and tugged on it (gently). The wire broke again but he was able to get out 2 inches of the 7 inches that was left in him 3 years ago.

The Dr was very good at telling us just what he was going to do and even gave us the before and after x-ray copies. A VERY good Dr and he did his best. He worked on our son for little over 2 hours.

All the Dr's and nurses and just shocked that this guide wire for the PICC line was left and not noticed missing.

The Dr did let me and my husband look and feel the wire (that was in a sealed bag) It truly looks and feels like a wire. It was flexible but wire!!!!

The Dr said it would be best for now to leave the other 5 inches in him because it's imbedded in the blood vein now because it's been in there for so long. Our son will be on blood thinners forever now so he doesn’t get blood clots.

Our son is doing great for the most part. His legs are bruised up and tender from the surgery. What a strong kid. He's been threw so much!!

If you or you know of a story somewhat like this one I would love to hear from you. What was left in you? Are you okay now?

And yes we did check into a lawyer. Everyone agrees, this is malpractice!!

A loving mother!!!
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Old 04-13-2007, 09:24 AM   #5
feelbad
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Re: PICC line broken/left in my 5yr old. Help!

well,you made my day,really.i was actually wondering who the heck did his removal?i see you are from MN.I was lucky to have one of the best,thru st paul radiology.doc madison.he really IS tops in his field.he is the trouble shooter IR that other IRs call in when they have a problem.He now runs the interventional neuroradiology center at st joes hosp in st paul.i am glad they now have him on blood thinners too.did this other doc never tell you about that risk once they confirmed he had left this in?i am assuming its just baby aspirin?if so,just make certain it is the enteric coated type as it can be very hard on his stomach.at least they were able to take care of the more emergent risks for him.the other docs,wow.i am glad you sought out an attorney.this IS malpractice for sure.inexcusable really.thats just plain negligence and was probably way out of the 'placers' level of training.thats the key here really.i wish you lots of luck with this and please keep me posted on how things are going,K?take care,FB
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3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.
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