title: The safety of intravenously administered vitamin K.
abstract: Literature sources suggest that iv vitamin K is associated with significant adverse side effects. Systematic study and documentation is lacking. In this 2-y retrospective review, 100 sequential doses of iv administered vitamin K in 45 patients were identified by computer-generated pharmacy utilization reports in an adult teaching hospital. Charts were reviewed for complications following infusion of vitamin K, including specific abnormalities during the 90-min period post-administration: systolic blood pressure <90, heart rate <60 or >120, rash, shortness of breath, and syncope. Complete post-administration data were available for 60/100 doses. One episode of clinically insignificant transient hypotension was identified. Progress notes, discharge summaries and a concurrent survey of adverse drug reaction reports identified no complications related to the use of iv vitamin K. In this series, the iv administration of vitamin K did not pose a clinically significant risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville Hospital, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bosse
authors.forename: Mary Nan S
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mallory
authors.forename: Greg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K