Citation

Juneja D, Singh O, Bhasin A, Gupta M, Saxena S, Chaturvedi A. Indian J. Crit. Care Med. 2012; 16(4): 231-233.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0972-5229.106511

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Owing to its wide and easy availability, digoxin has got a significant abuse potential and may be used for suicidal purposes. Digoxin-specific antibody (Fab) fragments have become the mainstay of therapy for severe digoxin toxicity and have significantly helped in reducing mortality. However, due to its high cost and limited availability alternative measures may need to be used to manage severe intoxications especially in countries like India, where Fab fragments are unavailable. Here, we present a case of a young female who presented to our casualty with alleged history of consumption of 17.5 mg of digoxin tablets. After admission to ICU, she developed atrioventricular blocks with hemodynamic instability which had to be managed with temporary pacemaker. Her serum digoxin levels were high (12.63 ng/ml) and in the absence of Fab fragments, resin hemoperfusion was done which drastically reduced the serum digoxin levels and reverted the symptoms.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; female; case report; disease severity; article; vomiting; hospital admission; patient monitoring; intensive care unit; recurrent disease; activated carbon; drug blood level; digoxin; nausea; hypotension; drug toxicity; heart rate; magnesium sulfate; immunoglobulin F(ab) fragment; bradycardia; diplopia; oxygen saturation; hemoperfusion; atrioventricular block; medical history; blurred vision; blood pressure measurement; sinus node; complete heart block; Atrioventricular block; digoxin toxicity; resin; resin hemoperfusion