Great case of bradycardia today in the ED-requiring transvenous pacemaker....cause?? K 7.6
Some bradycardia pearls:
The dose of atropine is 0.5 mg IV. Can be repeated.
Heart transplant patients will not respond to atropine as the transplant is denervated. Go right to pacing.
Consider glucagon if suspected beta blocker toxicity....and be prepared...most patients vomit!
DON"T FORGET THE K! A frequent cause of weird and insuspected bradycardia. I have had at least 3 cases of bradycardia (two requiring TV pacemaker insertion in the ED) due to hyperK in the last 3-4 weeks.
Capture of the ventricle occurs when the complexes on the monitor become wide (assuming they weren't already wide)
