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In addition, research shows serious adverse events have been growing 24 percent annually since 2007. Here are the top 5 categories with the highest number of adverse events in 2010:
1. Needles, syringes and infusion supplies: 23,000 adverse events (4,200 serious events)
2. Pacemaker and defibrillator pulse generators: 20,000 adverse events (3,500 serious adverse events)
3. Sugar test systems: 19,000 adverse events (3,600 serious adverse events)
4. Pacemaker and defibrillator electrodes: 13,000 adverse events (2,700 serious adverse events)
5. Implanted spinal cord stimulators: 9,000 adverse events (500 serious AEs adverse events)
Researchers attribute the increased incidence of device-related adverse events to four factors: improved reporting compliance, more devices in the market, complexity errors and higher risk procedures.
Related Articles on Adverse Events:
National Quality Forum Finalizes List of 29 Serious Reportable Events
FDA: Safety Labeling Changes Made to Prescribing Information for 48 Products in November
Joint Commission Issues Sentinel Event Alert on Healthcare Worker Fatigue
