ABSORPTION OF ORALLY-ADMINISTERED DIGOXIN AFTER MASSIVE RESECTION OF THE SMALL BOWEL

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 71  (2) , 220-223
Abstract
Digoxin absorption was studied in a patient after massive small bowel resection (with only 15 cm of jejunum left) after mesenteric thrombosis. Oral administration of 0.25 mg digoxin tablets resulted in therapeutic blood levels between 0.7 and 2.2 ng/ml. Measurement of the urinary excretion of the drug in steady state revealed more than 80% of the maintenance dose. Renal digoxin clearance was 125 ml/min. This resulted in slowing of the heart rate from 120 to 80/min with no side-effects. Total digoxin absorption might be normal in a patient with only 15 cm of jejunum and that usual doses of digoxin were sufficient for a therapeutic effect and "therapeutic" blood levels.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: