Chiang MC, Chou YH, Wang CR, Huang CC.

Division of Neonatology, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Extravasation of calcium gluconate is not an uncommon complication in neonatal units, which may result in skin and soft tissue inflammation, injury and even infection. We report an 11-day-old preterm infant who developed osteomyelitis at an infiltrated intravenous site through which calcium gluconate was infused. The patient was initially treated conservatively as a simple calcium-infiltrate. Clinical condition deteriorated until proper antibiotic treatment was given. We exclude other possible causes and assume that calcium-infiltrate had an important role in the pathogenesis. We conclude that osteomyelitis should be considered in a patient with calcium extravasation whose soft tissue inflammation does not improve as expected. Furthermore, using a diluted calcium solution and checking the insertion site frequently in order to identify extravasation earlier would prevent the complication.

PMID: 15264704 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Acta Paediatr Taiwan. 2004 Jan-Feb;45(1):35-7