We mentioned atropine's elimination from the cardiac arrest (asystole, PEA) protocols last week. Atropine (0.5 mg) is still indicated in unstable bradycardias that appear to be vagally-mediated, such as sinus bradycardia and Mobitz I bradycardia.
Beware, however, that atropine is not recommended in patients with transplanted hearts. These hearts lack vagal innervation, and in fact there's one small study suggesting that atropine may be associated with paradoxical slowing of the heart rate and worsening AV block. Go straight to pacing with these patients.
References
Neumar RW, Otto CW, Link MS, et al. Part 8: Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation 2010;122:S729-S767.
