Mum speaks of trauma after baby’s hand burnt by IV drip

A Melbourne mum has revealed she had to sell the family car to pay medical expenses after her baby was badly burnt by an IV drip.

Brodie Collins-Roberts and her one-year-old son, Koah, who needed surgery and a skin graft after an IV drip burnt a hole in his hand. Picture: Tony Gough

A Melbourne mother has spoken of her family’s trauma after her baby needed surgery and a skin graft for a hole burnt in his hand by an IV drip.

One-year-old Koah was vomiting and in an altered state of consciousness, later found to be a bad case of gastro, when he was rushed to Casey Hospital in Berwick on the evening of April 1.

He was treated for a suspected heart defect, based on family history, or an alternate diagnosis of sepsis and was placed on an intravenous drip administering antibiotics.

The following morning, Koah’s skin was swollen and the drip was removed before a blister began to form that afternoon.

A plastic surgeon removed the top layer of skin before Koah was discharged a couple of days later.

Koah was readmitted to hospital later that month with ongoing gastro symptoms, with his hand to be reviewed over the following weeks.

Koah in hospital. Picture: Supplied

Koah with his mother. Picture: Supplied

But the wound worsened and dead skin had to be removed before Koah underwent surgery and a skin graft, taken from his groin, in early May.

While the infant is now recovering, Koah’s mother, Brodie Collins-Roberts, said it would not be known if permanent damage had occurred until Koah was older.

“When you touch it, he pulls his hand away quite quickly,” she said.

“It looks like he’s in pain ... and he can’t tell us.”

She said the incident had taken an emotional and financial toll, with the mother forced to take time off work to care for Koah and sell the family car to pay for expenses.

“This shouldn’t have happened to anybody,” she said.

“It’s been a quite traumatic experience for everybody around us.”

Ms Collins-Roberts is now considering suing Monash Health, after she alleges the drip was left unmonitored for several hours and her concerns for Koah were dismissed.

“They believe they’ve done everything right and that there’s no need for no change,” she said.

Monash Health said it understood the incident had been distressing for Koah and his family and support had been offered but rejected claims of negligence.

“Monash Health reviews all treatment to ensure we are continuously improving our patient care – this matter was no exception and has been thoroughly investigated by an expert panel which found Monash Health staff acted in accordance with care protocols and treatment commenced without delay,” a spokesperson said.

The healthcare provider said a potential diagnosis of sepsis for infants required immediate care including the urgent administration of intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

It said an injury like Koah’s, known as extravasation, was due to the unintentional leaking of fluids or medications into the surrounding tissue, resulting in skin irritation such as blistering.

The onset of extravasation is often sudden, Monash Health said, and can be difficult to identify in infants due to their inability to communicate, with crying often being due to a range of factors including illness, hunger, and fatigue.

It added extravasation was always a risk in patients requiring intravenous treatment but saving their life always took precedence.

Jordan Bradfield, a Senior Solicitor at Shine Lawyers, said his firm was investigating a potential claim against Monash Health to provide compensation for Koah and his family.

“We allege the care provided to Koah fell below the standard reasonably expected of hospital staff,” he said.

“Our view is the hospital’s improper monitoring of Koah has resulted in a significant burn, requiring a skin graft and ongoing treatment.

“Koah continues to experience pain, discomfort and scarring in his hand, and his outlook is unknown at this stage.”

A GoFundMe has been set-up to help Koah and his family with ongoing costs.