[From iatrogenesis to medical errors: review of the literature and analytical approach]

Iatrogenesis and medical errors have been increasingly studied over the past years. Because of the lack of consensus concerning the definitions, it remains difficult to draw general conclusions from the published. Moreover, it is still likely to be underestimated because of underreporting. This review aims at evaluating the overall incidence of iatrogenesis and medical errors in anaesthesia and intensive care and at discussing the strategies to prevent these incidents, at the individual or systemic level.