Iatrogenic adverse events in the coronary care unit.

Background: Although our understanding of medical adverse events has increased substantially over the last decade, little is known about iatrogenic adverse events (IAEs) in the coronary care unit (CCU). We sought to determine the frequency and potential preventability of IAEs in the CCU of a tertiary care center.

Methods And Results: We undertook a retrospective cohort study evaluating the hospital charts of consecutive patients admitted to the CCU at Hamilton General Hospital (Ontario, Canada) from November 1, 2005, to January 1, 2006.

Does the clinical examination predict lower extremity peripheral arterial disease?

Context: Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common and associated with significant increases in morbidity and mortality. Physicians typically depend on the clinical examination to identify patients who need further diagnostic testing.

Objective: To systematically review the accuracy and precision of the clinical examination for PAD.

Hydrochlorothiazide-induced noncardiogenic pulmonary edema: an underrecognized yet serious adverse drug reaction.

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of hydrochlorothiazide therapy. We describe three patients who developed this serious adverse reaction. A 64-year-old woman developed dypsnea and hypotension within 60 minutes of taking a single dose of hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical inpatients: a retrospective chart review.

Background: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Most hospitalized patients with a fatal pulmonary embolism are medical patients who do not have a history of recent surgery [BMJ 302 (1991) 709; J. R.