title: [Prospective evaluation of the complications of anticoagulants in an intensive care unit].
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit to determine the proportion of complications due to anticoagulant therapy, to evaluate their severity and to estimate what proportion was potentially avoidable. Among 1911 hospitalized patients over a 3 year period, 30 patients had a complication of anticoagulant therapy (1,57 p. 100). The causality was definite in 14 cases, probable in 14 and possible in 2 cases. Nineteen p. 100 were hemorrhagic complications. These iatrogenic illnesses were fatal in 5 cases, life-threatening in 6, moderate in 15 and minor in 4 cases. Potentially avoidable complications accounted for 60 p. 100 of the cases and were due to biological overdosage or interaction between drugs. Our results indicate that some complications of anticoagulant therapy could be reduced or eliminated by medical education and increased information.
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K; D006493:Heparin
vernacular_title: Evaluation prospective des accidents des anticoagulants en unité de réanimation.