title: Fatal intravenous injection of potassium in hospitalized patients.
abstract: We describe 4 cases of fatal intravenous injection of potassium in the hospital setting. These cases illustrate the subtlety of findings in such deaths and remind the forensic pathologist to consider this type of event in sudden, unexpected death of hospitalized patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucy, USA.
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wetherton
authors.forename: Tracey S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Buchino
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000451:nursing; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C013216:potassium phosphate; D011188:Potassium