In a troubling incident that has raised significant concerns about hospital protocols, a 67-year-old man in Chengdu, Sichuan, was administered expired saline solution following surgery. This alarming situation only came to light when the patient’s family noticed the issue just before the intravenous fluids were nearly depleted. On November 7, the Sichuan Provincial Traffic Hospital admitted that its staff had failed to properly implement the verification processes necessary to prevent such occurrences. Although the hospital stated it had reached an agreement with the patient’s family, it has not provided an explanation as to how the expired saline solution made its way into the medical procedure.
According to reports, on the morning of November 4, the elderly patient, whose last name is Xiong, underwent a procedure to remove a lipoma from his back at the regional headquarters of the Sichuan Provincial Traffic Hospital, located in the Pidu District. Following the surgery, he was admitted to the hospital ward for intravenous therapy.
The man’s daughter, Ms. Xiong, noticed the problem while preparing to remove the IV bag as the saline solution was nearly finished. To her shock, she discovered that the sodium chloride solution—commonly known as saline—was over two months past its expiration date. She promptly brought this issue to the attention of the nursing staff, who immediately halted the administration of the IV fluids.
The family provided the medication bag, which was marked with a manufacture date of August 28, 2024, and noted that it was valid until August 27, 2026. At the time of the discovery, only about 10 milliliters remained in a 250-milliliter bag, which had also been mixed with anti-inflammatory medication. The family expressed concern that nearly the entire contents had already been injected into the elderly man’s body.
In their communication with the hospital staff, the family learned that the anti-inflammatory medication itself had not expired; however, the saline solution was recommended by the attending physician, sent out from the operating room, and administered by the ward staff.
Although the elderly patient did not exhibit any immediate adverse symptoms, the family expressed apprehension regarding potential future health risks. They urged the hospital to thoroughly investigate the entire process, from the storage and requisition of the saline solution to its administration, and to examine whether similar issues could arise in the future. Consequently, the patient remained hospitalized for observation and underwent blood tests to monitor liver and kidney function.
In a statement released on November 7, the hospital attributed the incident to inadequate adherence to verification procedures by its staff. However, it failed to clarify how expired saline solution remained in circulation and what the specific processes for requisition and administration entailed.
Further details revealed that the hospital had taken steps against those responsible, which included financial penalties, mandatory retraining, and temporary suspension of promotions for the involved nurses and managers.
The situation has attracted significant scrutiny online, with many netizens questioning the hospital’s management practices. Comments ranged from surprise that no one noticed the error during various points in the process to concerns about the seriousness of the incident. One user remarked, “What if it had been a different medication instead of saline?”—emphasizing the potential severity of the situation.
Another user lamented the bizarre nature of such an event occurring in a place meant to save lives, stating, “If the family hadn’t been vigilant, who knows what could have happened?”
This incident sheds light on the need for stringent adherence to medical protocols and the critical importance of staff diligence in healthcare settings to ensure patient safety.