Broken IV Cannulas Plague Tamil Nadu Hospitals, Putting Patients at Risk

Over the past year, Tamil Nadu's government hospitals have been grappling with a troubling issue – the frequent failure of intravenous (IV) lines, including peripheral IV cannulas. Numerous incidents have been reported where the cannulas have broken, leaving plastic fragments lodged inside patients' veins. This has prompted government doctors across the state to raise serious concerns about the safety and quality of these medical devices.

An investigation by The Hindu has revealed that these incidents have been occurring at multiple hospitals, including those in the state capital, Chennai. Doctors have had to perform minor surgical procedures to retrieve the retained catheter parts, often requiring imaging assistance. Similar quality issues have also been reported with central venous lines used in nephrology departments, where guidewire malfunctions have made it difficult to insert and remove the catheters, increasing the risk of vascular injury.

While some doctors acknowledged that other factors could contribute to cannula fractures, they said the frequency of such breakages in government hospitals appears to be primarily due to quality issues with the medical supplies. In addition to the IV cannulas, concerns have also been raised about the poor quality of infusion sets, syringes, and even endotracheal tubes used for intubation, putting patients at risk of further complications.