The increased use of medical devices by young people in the community is linked to a high level of acute device-related complications, a new study in the US has shown.

The first detailed national estimate of device complications in young people outside hospital by the FDA found that over 70,000 children and teenagers per year visited a hospital emergency room for complications of medical device use.

About 25% of the problems are eye infections or abrasions in contact lens wearers. Other common problems include puncture wounds from broken hypodermic needles; infections in young children with ear tubes; and skin tears from pelvic devices used during gynaecological exams.

The most serious problems involved implanted devices such as brain shunts, chest catheters and insulin pumps. Infections and overdoses are among the problems associated with these devices.

General reasons found for the complications included device malfunction and device misuse. Dr. Steven Krug, Head of Emergency Medicine at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital, said the study highlighted a trade-off between the benefits and risks of using medical devices to treat chronically ill children at home or in the community. "Healthcare providers need to be aware of these kids and their devices and how to recognise or diagnose problems," he noted.

The researchers analysed medical records from visits to the ER departments of 100 hospitals. They estimated that 144,800 medical device complications occurred nationally during 2004 and 2005.