Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) provide essential fatty acids during parenteral nutrition (PN). Serious adverse events including death can occur from overdose. We report an accidental overdose in a preterm infant.
METHOD:
On Day 2 of life, a 29-week gestational age (GA) twin was accidentally given 47.5 mL of Intralipid20% (≈3x daily amount) in 50-minutes.
RESULTS:
No apparent clinical deterioration occurred, although blood samples were lipaemic. Outcomes at 2 years corrected GA were similar to that of his twin. Service changes were made to infusion packaging and administration to avoid similar errors.
CONCLUSIONS:
Medication errors in neonates are unfortunately common. Published articles usually focus on poor outcomes, which can increase the distress for parents of children where errors have occurred. Publishing the full spectrum of outcomes instead allows parents and professionals to be aware of all possibilities and lessons learnt, even if serious harm was avoided.
Introduction
Intravenous lipid emulsions (ILE), a component of parenteral nutrition (PN), are frequently administered to preterm infants and infants with gastrointestinal problems while they establish milk feeding [1]. ILE is often infused separately from other components of PN and accidental overdoses can occur. Reports of such overdoses cite serious adverse effects, such as respiratory distress, fat overload syndrome, metabolic acidosis, and death [2–8].
We report an accidental overdose of soybean oil emulsion (Intralipid 20%) in a preterm infant, one of twins. We describe the twin’s neonatal course and outcomes at 2-year corrected gestational age (GA) follow-up, and discuss the implications of such errors, system changes that could prevent them, and the parents’ perspective of the experience.
Case Presentation
Monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) male twins (Twins 1 and 2) were born by spontaneous vaginal delivery at 29 weeks’ gestation, weighing 1329 g and 1273 g, respectively (Table 1). Their mother, a 32-year old Caucasian, was gravida 1 and had no other pregnancy complications. She received antenatal magnesium sulfate but the course of labour was too rapid for a complete course of antenatal steroids.
Neonatal course and two-year corrected age follow-up of the case and his twin brother
Neonatal course and two-year corrected age follow-up of the case and his twin brother
*born at 00:25hours the following day. CGA, corrected gestational age; CPAP, continuous positive pressure ventilation; GMH, germinal matrix haemorrhage.
Following stabilization at birth with brief continuous positive airway pressure, Twin 2 was intubated due to inadequate respiratory effort and low oxygen saturation, given surfactant, and mechanically ventilated. On day 2, he had rising c-reactive protein levels and had suspected infection that was treated with antibiotics. In keeping with recommended practice, PN [9], including ILE, infusion was started after birth via an umbilical venous catheter for both twins. For Twin 2 on day 2, the ILE bag was changed, and the infusion pump reset with an intention to deliver the daily 15.9 ml (i.e., 12.5 ml/kg) over 24 hours. Fifty minutes later, the nurse saw that 45.7mLof the ILE had been given. The infusion was stopped and it was noted that the pump was set incorrectly. Twin 2 had received 5.85 g of triglycerides in 50 minutes (instead of ∼0.07 g of his total 1.6 g/kg/day), which also gave a large volume of fluids (54.8 mL/hour) over this short time.
He was reviewed immediately. There was no apparent clinical deterioration. Capillary blood gas showed pH-7.21; PCO2-7.8kPa; PO2-5.5kPa; lactate-1.6 mmol/L, Base Excess –5.5 mmol/L; bicarbonate-19.6 mmol/L; and glucose of 9.3 mmol/L. Coarse dense lung fields were seen on x-ray, consistent with lung disease of prematurity, findings similar to his previous images. The laboratory reported that the blood sample was “grossly lipaemic” but an exact triglyceride level was undeterminable. Serum electrolytes and renal function were normal (sodium-139 mmol/L; potassium-4.0 mmol/L; urea-6.5 mmol/L; creatinine-42umol/L). Bilirubin level was 129 micromol/L, but the laboratory could not report alanine aminotransferase levels or coagulation studies due to interference from lipaemia. Subsequent investigations showed normal kidney and liver functions with raised triglyceride level (13.0 mmol/L) ∼12 hours after the overdose. As he remained clinically stable, no intervention was made to remove the excess lipid or fluid. His urine output increased on day 3 but other parameters remained stable. He was discharged home partially NG fed and on supplemental oxygen at 0.1 L/min. He came off these supports after a few weeks at home.
The twins were discharged after 70 days. Both had growth and neurodevelopmental assessments at 2 years corrected GA including the Parent Report of Children’s Abilities-Revised (PARCA-R) and Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID-III; Table 1). Twin 1 scored average (–1 SD to < +1 SD) in nonverbal cognition with a mild delay (–2 SD to < -2 SD) in language ability, while Twin 2 had mild delay in both nonverbal cognition and language ability. BSID-III performance was similar for both twins, falling into the average ranges for cognitive and social emotional development, mild delay in language development, and Twin 2 also had mild motor and adaptive behavior delays.
In keeping with principles of “duty of candour,” [10] parents were informed about the error. They were understandably distressed and asked what harm could occur. Information shared with them included a review of reported cases and possible interventions. The parents were concerned, as their own online inquiries revealed case reports of death, other adverse events, and need for interventions. They agreed that despite these reports, as the infant was clinically stable, no active intervention was required. The parents were regularly updated and participated actively in the investigation and risk management process that followed. At the two-year follow-up, they recalled this and reflected that they would like to share their experience so that families of any future similar case would have the information that not all infants with lipid overdoses suffer serious adverse consequences.
Investigation into the error
An investigation revealed that the error occurred at the point of entering the infusion rate into the pump, as the total daily volume of PN was accidentally entered as the rate. The hospital had a standard policy of two nurses double-checking the medications and calculations for the infusion rate. This is in keeping with the previous safety alert issued by NHS Improvement [11], which highlighted incidences where the pump rates were set such that the lipids were infused at the rate meant for the aqueous solution, other incorrect infusion rates were entered, or volumes were miscalculated when changes were made. In our reported case, the error was because the total lipid volume was incorrectly entered and, in the policy at that time, however, there was no requirement for a second nurse to oversee that this rate was correctly entered into the pump, although double-checking at the point of calculation of the volume did occur. Lack of double-checking at the input step was identified as the root cause of the error. An associated ‘near hit’ was also identified: the ILE was supplied in a standard 100 mL bag. If the error had not been noted quickly, due to regular checks, the infant would have received an even larger overdose.
Discussion
Infants, particularly those born preterm, are exposed to various drugs and are at a high risk of medication errors [12–14]. The risk for harm is eight times more likely in newborns as compared to adults [13]. Many such errors result from inadequate prescribing practices or technological errors (e.g., incorrect pump settings) and, when fully investigated, are believed to be risks that can be largely reduced [12, 13].
ILEs are widely used to optimise nutrition in preterm infants but can have adverse effects, even at recommended doses (Table 2) [15–22]. Most infants receive ILEs safely, but inadvertent overdose is reported in the literature and can cause immediate life-threatening effects, such as acute severe hypertriglyceridaemia, which worsens respiratory disease in premature infants [23, 24]. Table 3 describes case reports of accidental overdoses of ILEs [2–8]. Single or double-volume plasma exchange therapy was used in 5 cases to reduce elevated triglyceride levels. This was unsuccessful in Badr et al’s case, who hypothesized that significant delay before implementing exchange therapy due to unfamiliarity may have limited its efficacy. The infant in their report also had multiple comorbidities that likely contributed to the poor outcome.
Reported adverse effects of intralipid emulsion in neonates and infants
Reported adverse effects of intralipid emulsion in neonates and infants
BW, birth weight; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; GA, gestational age; ILE, intravenous lipid emulsion; MCT, medium chain triglycerides; NEC, necrotising enterocolitis; PN, parenteral nutrition; SMOF, soybean oil (30%), medium-chain triglycerides (MTC, 30%), olive oil (25%), and fish oil (15%).
Case reports of intralipid emulsion overdoses in neonates and infants
BW, birth weight; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; GA, gestational age; ILE, intralipid emulsion; MCT, medium chain triglycerides; NEC, necrotising enterocolitis.
The type of lipid in the ILE may be related to the level of harm from overdose. Soybean oil emulsions containing omega-6 compounds (Intralipid 10% and 20% formulations) have been related to worse outcomes. Fish oil compounds or those including medium chain triglycerides (MCT) appear to induce only transient hypertriglyceridaemia, perhaps due to different metabolic pathways that facilitate rapid plasma clearance [4, 5]. We found only one other case where an overdose of soybean ILE in an infant resulted in asymptomatic hypertriglyceridaemia (Table 4), and this included an ILE mixed with MCT that may have ameliorated the effects [5].
Fortunately, in our case, the infant did not suffer any apparent adverse consequences. Although gross lipaemia was present immediately following overdose, there was no acute clinical deterioration and plasma exchange was not performed. His growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes are within the expected range for his gestational age albeit with some mild delays. Up to one third of very preterm infants (28–32 weeks’ GA) show mild neurodevelopmental delay at two years of age [25, 26]. Compared with his brother, he was more unwell after birth requiring mechanical ventilation and had raised inflammatory markers before the ILE overdose, but the subsequent clinical course was similar.
It is likely that there are other cases of ILE overdose where the recipient remains stable with conservative management. Such cases though are unlikely to be submitted for publication, due to the erroneous assumption that lack of harm makes them less interesting and less publishable. Publication biases against null hypotheses or “negative” results are well-known in medicine [27, 28], including those regarding drug errors [28]. However, an unintended consequence of such underreporting is that parents seeking information in the aftermath of such incidents see a picture skewed towards worse outcomes. The parents reported here highlighted this and expressed the need for more balanced reporting.
Additionally, regardless of the severity of outcome, drug errors must be investigated and strategies to prevent recurrence planned and implemented. Lessons learnt from near hits must be shared, as they are as valuable as the lessons from errors that lead to serious harm. Human factors are implicated in approximately two-thirds of medication errors in neonatal units, particularly administration errors for infusion pumps [4, 29]. In all the reported cases of infant ILE overdose, accidental incorrect programming of the pump was responsible. Locally, we implemented a nurse ‘double-check’ system for pump rate input, in addition to that already in place for double-checking calculations and correct medication/formula, to prevent recurrence, but continued vigilance and staff training are required to ensure repetitions are avoided. Additionally, we repackaged the lipid emulsion to limit the volume of any future errors [29]. One of the main factors in our error was that the lipid was in a large container (100 mL bag), allowing a large volume to be given if the volume calculation or rate input into the pump is wrong. Using a syringe with a smaller volume (e.g., 25 mL) is one way to limit the volume that can be accidentally given. Similarly, using a drug library in the pump with preset rate limits can also help but such pumps can be expensive and not available to all neonatal units. Such strategies, made at the system level, have been proposed to reduce and limit human and drug errors [29–32].
ILEs are fundamental to provide adequate nutrition but can have significant adverse effects, particularly in overdose. We report a case of accidental ILE overdose due to incorrect infusion pump setting without adverse outcome. Medication errors in neonates are unfortunately common and can cause harm to the infant and significant distress to the parents. Most publications focus on cases with adverse outcomes. We need to report outcomes more consistently so that parents and health care professionals can see the full spectrum of potential consequences.
Abbreviations
Bayley Scales of Infant Development III gestational age intravenous lipid emulsions Parent Report of Children’s Abilities-Revised parenteral nutrition
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.
Funding
No funding was secured for this study.
