Dennis Quaid's Twins Hospitalized
November 21, 2007

The two newborn twins of Dennis Quaid and his wife were hospitalized this week after an accidental overdose of heparin, highlighting how often these things happen and how they can happen to anyone. The twins are seriously ill after the overdose, but it looks like they'll pull through. Dennis Quaid released a statement on Tuesday through his rep Cara Tripicchio and quoted by E!, in which he said, "Dennis and Kimberly appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and hope they can maintain their privacy at this difficult time."

Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace Quaid are only twelve days old and the twins were placed in neonatal intensive care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after the personnel accidentally have them too much heparin, an anticlotting medication that's used to flush out IV drips, according to E! Cedars-Sinai confirmed that the twins of Dennis Quaid were hospitalized after a preventable error. They revealed on Tuesday that three patients who were being treated intravenously had their IVs flushed with 10,000-unit solution of heparin. It should have been a 10-unit solution.

Chief medical officer Dr. Michael Langberg said in a statement, quoted by E!, "The error was identified by Cedars-Sinai staff, who immediately performed blood tests on the patients to measure blood clotting function."

The twins were immediately given protamine sulfate, which treats heparin overdoses, and E! reports that there was no permanent damage and that doctors are closely monitoring the situation. Langberg said, "I want to extend my deepest apologies to the families who were affected by this situation, and we will continue to work with them on any concerns or questions they may have. This was a preventable error, involving a failure to follow our standard policies and procedures, and there is no excuse for that to occur at Cedars-Sinai. Although it appears at this point that there was no harm to any patient, we take this situation very seriously. We are conducting a comprehensive investigation, cooperating fully with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and will take all necessary steps to ensure that this never happens here again."

Our deepest sympathies go out to Dennis Quaid and his wife Kimberly Buffington during this hard time and we hope for the quickest possible recovery.