Balance Problems From Gentamicin
Have you developed balance problems after being prescribed Gentamicin? If so, you may be suffering from vestibular balance caused by Gentamicin poisoning. If this happened because medical practitioners failed to monitor the amount of Gentamicin in your bloodstream, you could be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation.
To find out more about making a claim for Gentamicin poisoning, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors. We specialise in medical negligence claims and will tell you whether you have a case to pursue.
Gentamicin
Gentamicin is a type of antibiotic. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called aminoglycosides.
Gentamicin is known to affect the balance system if used in excess. This is because it can damage the organs in the inner ear, which enable our balance.
The balance system
The balance system, also known as the vestibular system, involves a series of complex interactions between different systems in the body.
The balance system includes sensory input from the vestibular apparatus (balance organs in the inner ears and associated processing centres in the brain), input from the visual system, and proprioceptive input – which enables us to interpret the body's position and movement.
This sensory information is processed in the brain and responses are produced in order to maintain balance and to allow visual tracking. The main part of the balance system involves a response from the vestibular system to the spinal column known as the vestibulospinal reflex. The vestibulospinal reflex allows a reflex response to maintain balance and to prevent falls.
How does Gentamicin affect balance?
The vestibular portion of the balance system is made up of end organs in the inner ears. The sensors within these end organs are hair cells and it is these that are very sensitive to poisoning from aminoglycosides.
Therefore when too much Gentamicin is administered, it will damage in inner ear, limiting the vestibular information being transmitted to the brain. When there is an inadequate vestibulospinal response, it will increase the sensation of unsteadiness and the risk of falls.
The other main output from the balance centre in the brain is the vestibulo-occular reflex which controls eye movement when the body itself is moving. It also allows gaze stabilisation and visual tracking.
In the absence of adequate vestibular input there will be an inadequate vestibule-occular reflex and the eyes will not move in a co-ordinated fashion when the head, neck or body moves and this leads to a sensation of unsteadiness, poor balance, difficulty reading, and in particular, bobbing oscillopsia. Oscillopsia is a sensation of the horizon bouncing up and down when you walk.
The balance system also works closely with the cerebellar function in controlling gait and coordination. Reduced vestibular function will have an effect on both gait and coordination.
Balance problems after Gentamicin poisoning
When symptoms arise due to the use of Gentamicin, the patient is said to have Gentamicin poisoning or Gentamicin toxicity. When inner ear damage occurs, it is called vestibular failure. If the damage is in both ears, it is called bilateral vestibular failure.
As described above, vestibular damage from Gentamicin poisoning can lead to:
- Bobbling oscillopsia
- Poor balance, particularly in the dark and uneven ground
- Difficulty tracking eye movements
- Difficulty reading
- General unsteadiness
These symptoms will severely hinder a person's life. With the onset of balance symptoms, he/she will find it difficult to travel independently, as there will be unsteadiness and a tendency to fall with rapid movements. This means walking aids will be needed when moving around the house, making it hard to carry out normal daily tasks (like washing up, cooking, carrying food or hanging out the laundry). The individual will also be unable to read text or a computer screen for any length of time due to the inability to fix their eyesight and to read clearly.
When vestibular damage happens due to Gentamicin poisoning, it is likely to be long-lasting. Initially there can be some improvement, but after three years the patient would not be expected to experience any further improvement. Therefore he/she will be left with poor balance for the rest of their life.
Preventing Gentamicin poisoning
Gentamicin is known to be vestibulo-toxic, meaning it tends to affect the balance system. Gentamicin can also cause other types of damage. For example, it can lead to ototoxicity, which is when the patient develops hearing loss. And it can lead to nephrotoxicity, where the kidneys are damaged. That is why Gentamicin must never be prescribed to patients with kidney failure.
Because of the potential side-effects of Gentamicin, its use must be monitored very carefully. As indicated above, it must not be given to anyone with existing kidney, hearing or balance issues, as Gentamicin could exacerbate their symptoms.
In other patients, Gentamicin can be useful antibiotic, especially if the patient is allergic to other antibiotics such as Penicillin. However, a safe dosage must be calculated according to the patient's age, weight and health. The amount of Gentamicin in the bloodstream must then be monitored with regular blood tests. If too much of the antibiotic is in the bloodstream, the dosage must be amended accordingly.
With these steps, it is possible to prevent Gentamicin poisoning. But if the patients receives a significant amount of Gentamicin, it can result in persistently high levels of Gentamicin in the bloodstream, leading to damage around the body – including vestibular damage.
Has this happened to you?
If you have lost your balance after being given Gentamicin, you could be suffering from Gentamicin poisoning. If this is the fault of medical practitioners, you could be entitled to pursue a claim against those responsible. For instance, it may be that they failed to calculate the correct dosage, monitor the Gentamicin levels in your blood, or stop administering Gentamicin when you had dangerously high levels of it in your body.
If you believe your balance loss has been caused by medical mistakes, you need to speak to a solicitor about the care you received. We specialise in medical negligence claims and will be say whether you have been the victim of medical error.
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