Hemodynamic profiles following digoxin use in patients with sepsis in the ICU

To explore the impact of digoxin on hemodynamic parameters in patients with sepsis and tachycardia admitted to the intensive care unit.

Retrospective review of adult patients admitted to the medical and mixed ICU at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota from March 2008 to February 2018, initiated on digoxin within 24 h of ICU stay. Hemodynamic parameters were reviewed before digoxin administration and at 6, 12 and 24 h after. Adverse events including new onset conduction abnormalities or arrhythmias during the first 48 h after digoxin administration were reviewed by a critical care cardiologist.

Study included 180 patients. We observed significant decrease in heart rate from 124 (115-138) beats/min 1 h before digoxin to 101 (87-117) 6 h after digoxin and 94 (84-112) 12 h after (p < .01). Median systolic blood pressure increased from 100 (91-112) mm Hg 1 h before to 110 (100-122) (p < .01) and 111 (103-124) at 6 and 12 h respectively after digoxin.

Early digoxin administration in patients with sepsis and tachycardia is uncommon but associated with improvements of hemodynamic parameters. These preliminary results will help formulate future hypotheses for focused trials on utility, efficacy and safety of digoxin in sepsis.