Relationship of intraamniotic digoxin to fetal demise

Abstract 

Background

Induced fetal demise by intraamniotic injection of digoxin is an alternative to methods using intracardiac or umbilical vein injection. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of intraamniotic injection and the timing of fetal demise after injection.

Study Design

Twenty-two women had ultrasonic fetal cardiac assessments 1, 2, 4 and 20 to 24 h after intraamniotic injection of 1.5 mg digoxin.

Results

Fetal cardiac activity was absent in 21/21 women assessed at least 20 h after injection. One woman had agonal (40 bpm) fetal cardiac activity at 14 h. Most women had fetal cardiac activity 4 h after injection. Signs of toxicity were not seen.

Conclusion

Intraamniotic injection of digoxin 1.5 mg is effective at causing fetal demise by 20 to 24 h. However, for most women, fetal demise is not obtained within 4 h.

Keywords: Digoxin, Feticide, Fetocide, Abortion, Second trimester