Evidence-based On-call

Bradyarrhythmias

Therapy

Give symptomatic patients (e.g. evidence of heart failure, chest pain or reduced consciousness) ^d atropine ^c

Why?

It raises blood pressure and speeds up the heart (on average by 30 beats/minute). ^c
It controls ventricular arrhythmias in 87% of cases. (87%: 95% CI: 75% to 99%) ^c
It normalises blood pressure in 88% of hypotensive patients (88%: 95% CI: 73% to 100%) ^c