Medication errors during medical emergencies in a large, tertiary care, academic medical center.

Purpose: Evaluate the rate, type and severity of medication errors occurring during Medical Emergency Team (MET) care at a large, tertiary-care, academic medical center.

Methods: A prospective, observational evaluation of 50 patients that required MET care was conducted. Data on medication use were collected using a direct-observation method whereby an observer documented drug information such as drug, dose, frequency, rate of administration and administration technique.

Pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic rationale for combination therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease of the pulmonary vasculature characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure. Currently, there is no cure for this disease, and treatment is palliative. PAH therapies target 3 main pathways: prostacyclin, endothelin, and nitric oxide.