Table 1.
Characteristics of cases, patients, and outcomes of 30 lawsuits related to anaphylaxis.
| N (%) | |
|---|---|
| Patient demographics | |
| Female | 22 (73%) |
| Male | 8 (27%) |
| Pediatric patient (age <18 yrs) | 3 (10%) |
| Inciting trigger | |
| IV contrast | 12 (40%) |
| Latex | 2 (7%) |
| Cephalosporin | 2 (7%) |
| Other medication | 8 (27%) |
| Food | 2 (7%) |
| Insect sting | 2 (7%) |
| Not reported | 2 (7%) |
| Patient outcomea | |
| Death | 16 (53%) |
| Permanent neurologic damageb | 5 (17%) |
| Permanent cardiac dysfunction | 4 (13%) |
| Non-fatal cardiac arrest | 4 (13%) |
| ICU admission | 4 (13%) |
| Other severe reaction (hospitalization, long-term consequences) | 3 (10%) |
| Defendant named in lawsuitc | |
| Physician | 15 (50%) |
| Hospital | 13(43%) |
| Nurse | 5 (17%) |
| Other (clinic, radiology technician, school, EMS, rehab facility) | 6 (20%) |
| Physician specialty (if specified)c | |
| Radiology | 3 (10%) |
| Primary care (internal medicine, family medicine) | 3 (10%) |
| Emergency medicine | 2 (7%) |
| Anesthesiology | 2 (7%) |
| Cardiology | 2 (7%) |
| Other (plastic surgery, otolaryngology, urology, ophthalmology, neurology, obstetrics) | 6 (20%) |
| Reason for lawsuitd | |
| Exposure to known trigger | 14 (47%) |
| Delayed diagnosis/inadequate treatment | 12 (40%) |
| Inappropriate administration of IV epinephrine | 5 (17%) |
| Inadequate pretreatment for contrast | 3 (10%) |
| Outcome of lawsuit | |
| No liability | 14 (47%) |
| Negligence | 8 (27%) |
| Settlement | 3 (10%) |
| Unknown | 5 (17%) |
| Amount of settlement/judgment | Mean (range) |
| Cases ending in finding of negligence | $1,407,368 ($27,500 – 4,500,000) |
| Cases ending in settlement | $376,667 ($250,000 – 440,000) |
IV, intravenous; ICU, intensive care unit; EMS, emergency medical services.
a
Some patients had more than one outcome.
b
Includes case in which permanent neurologic injury was caused to baby in utero allegedly from maternal hypotension leading to fetal hypoxia.
c
Some cases named more than one defendant or specialty.
d
Some cases had more than one reason for the lawsuit.