title: Intracardiac injection of potassium chloride as method for feticide: experience from a single UK tertiary centre.
abstract: We report our experience with intracardiac administration of potassium chloride as safe and effective method for late termination of pregnancy (TOP) and to document the indications for feticide in a major tertiary unit. During the study period (January 2000 and December 2005), 239 late terminations of pregnancy were performed at a median gestational age of 22(+6) weeks (range 20(+6) to 36(+3) weeks). The most frequent indication was represented by aneuploidy (24.3%), followed by brain abnormalities (17.6%). Maternal indications were responsible for 2.9% of the total number of terminations. No maternal complications occurred and complete asystole was achieved in all cases with a median volume of potassium chloride of 4.7 ml (range 2-10 ml). Potassium chloride injected directly in the left ventricle induces immediate asystole, and it is a safe and effective method of TOP. Interestingly, despite the widespread introduction of aneuploidy screening, chromosomal abnormalities, particularly trisomy 21, still represent the major indication for late TOP.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pontello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000782:Aneuploidy; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D011189:Potassium Chloride