ACLS drugs for Bradycardia | ACLS-Algorithms.com

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  1. Angela says

    Hi I just found this site because I was researching more on bradycardia. I discovered that the symptoms of this condition is exactly what I am experiencing from yesterday low pulse. I have oybeen to the hospital yet but reading your information is of help. I am experiencing shortness of breath at 5 to 10 minutes intervals. What should I do in this situation. …I am a diabetic patient that my medical history . Please I trust that your comment on this will go a long way.

    • Dr. Rob says

      You 100%, without a doubt, should see your doctor immediately. This can be caused by any number of things including, but not limited to:

      Heart block
      Myocardial ischemia (heart attack)
      Sinus node (natural pacemaker) dysfunction.

      In a female (especially with diabetes) the symptoms of a heart attack may not be the classic chest pain. You can not assume that this is not something very serious until you have it checked out by a doctor (most likely a cardiologist).

  2. jennifer says

    fantastic information on here, thanks for sharing.

    Could you explain a little more about why atropine in contraindicated if the patient is hypothermic…. or rather, what could be the outcome if it were administered in this situation?

    Many thanks!

    • Jeff with admin. says

      The main reason why atropine is contraindicated for the patient that is hyperthermic is because bradycardia in the presence of hypothermia is typically related to the hypothermia. Reading the cause of the bradycardia by aggressive rewarming will often times reverse the bradycardia.

      Also, the hypothermic myocardium may become more irritable with the administration of Atropine or TCP, and drug metabolism may be reduced.

      There is also a theoretical concern that medications could accumulate to toxic levels in the peripheral circulation if given repeatedly to the severely hypothermic victim. For these reasons, previous guidelines suggest withholding IV drugs if the victim’s core body temperature is <30°C (86°F).

      Hope that helps.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  3. Ronnie says

    Could treating a mobitz or complete heart block with atropine actually cause harm to the patient. I am thinking that administering this will increase atrial rate but depending on where the block is, no change in ventricular rate. This increases rate of dissociation and reduced fill times for the heart-maybe causing a PEA?

    Thanks

    • Jeff with admin. says

      It is unlikely that the 0.5 mg dose of atropine used for the treatment of symptomatic bradycardia would have such a profound effect to result in PEA as suggested.

      Atropine in most cases will not hurt the patient with 3rd-degree block unless they are unstable and you delay pacing to give atropine.

      If Atropine has been administered and symptomatic bradycardia does not improve, transcutaneous pacing should be initiated as soon as possible.

      Also, determining the level of the heart block prior to treatment can reduce the chance that your interventions will cause harm.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  4. Robyn Parker says

    I am wanting to reference this in an assignment; please could you tell me who the author is and the year it was published?

      • Marco says

        I wish there could be a like button for your comments and your excellent information! I come often to your page to get a clear idea of the different cardiovascular situations and their treatments. Thanks for your help!!
        I found you on Facebook. Do you have an Instagram page?
        Keep the great work! Gracias!

        Sincerely,
        Marco

      • Jeff with admin. says

        Thanks for the encouraging words. I am so glad that the site has been helpful for you. Unfortunately, at this time, I do not have an Instagram page. Kind regards, Jeff

  5. Alessandro Ciucà says

    Hi,
    Thank you for the great work you’re doing here
    Regarding atropine,in the setting of a intraoperative (so already ongoing anesthesia ,25/30min)rapid bradycardia in a patient with no pregress cardiac symptoms:
    -Is 0.5 mg the right dose of atropine?
    -Is there any indication do give 1.0 ,also given the fact the patient is more than 70kg (78kg,smoker,diabetic, bmi 29.5)?

    Thanks for you help
    Alex

    • Jeff with admin. says

      According to AHA guidelines, 0.5 mg of atropine will be the correct dose and subsequent repeat doses can be given if necessary. According to AHA guidelines, there is no indication for giving 1 mg of atropine in a single dose.

      Although AHA gives no recommendations for higher doses, I have seen literature that discusses the use of higher doses of atropine for bradycardia that does not respond well to 0.5 mg. In light of this, I would say that the use of higher does is not out of the question.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  6. Andrea Robert says

    If you don’t have one of the newer IV pumps that have a dopamine drip program, can anyone share an easy way to give a dopamine infusion?

  7. susan Conforzi says

    I have seen isuprel infusions used for symptomatic bradycardia but it is not mentioned in acls
    can you comment on this
    thanks

  8. allen rasnick says

    the AHA guideline dose for Dopamine for bradycardia is 2 – 20 mcg/kg/min. the ROSC dose for Dopamine is 5-10 mcg/kg/min. we re using the same drug/drip to achieve different results. remember if the heart rate is SLOW start Dopamine LOW to get the desired impact.

  9. GIANMARCO RUFFATTI BATLLE says

    In a patient with cetoacidosis and hypovolemic shock that develops bradicardia (44 bpm) due to hyperkalemia, can he receive intensive IV fluid therapy (2 litter normal saline bolus), should he be given atropine (patient has 11/15 glasgow but I believe it is mostly due to hypovolemia and increased osmolarity.)

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Atropine. Followed quickly with 10 units of regular insulin and 50 grams of dextrose.

      Also, the intensive IV fluid therapy would be used to correct the hypovolemic shock.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  10. Brandon says

    DA (Dopamine) is a precursor to Epi. The reason some docs like to use one over the other is as follows: Your myocardium and nervous tissue transport DA into a vesicle that contains a specific enzyme that will convert it to Epi and then that vesicle must be trafficked to the proper receptor (typically on the outside of the cell) that will cause increased permeability to calcium and eventual muscle contraction. If you give Epi, you bypass this conversion system and get the effect you want sooner. Both are relatively quick processes, it just comes down to personal preference.

  11. Kev says

    In relation to the “Bainbridge Reflex”… would aggressive IV fluid treatment not be an effective way of raising heart rate in patients with symptomatic bradycardia? This is not what is indicated pre-hospital – so why not?

    • Jeff with admin. says

      I’m not sure what the mean by brain bridge reflex but fluids will not stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. Atropine will increase heart rate. Transcutaneous pacing will increase heart rate.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

    • Ethan says

      Speaking from an SNS perspective, wouldnt aggressive IV fluids end up decreasing the heart rate further due to a rise in blood pressure? HR increases with a drop in blood pressure such as in hypovolemic shock so IV fluids would not elicit the desired response here.

      It’s all situation as to the contributing factors leading to the bradycardia.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      This document is from 2014. The AHA guidelines were released in late 2015. Prior to 2015, the AHA Guidelines for dopamine was 2-10 mcg/kg/min. This was changed to 2-20 mcg/kg/min in 2015. Kind regards, Jeff

  12. Hilgendh says

    What’s the major differences between Dopamine and Epinephrine besides the dose ranges? In my readings, i see that dopamine is a precursor to epi, and that both have a Beta- effect at low doses and an increasing Alpha effect at higher doses. Why is epinephrine prefered for everything? What would be reasons to choose one over another?

    Thanks!!!

    • Jeff with admin. says

      For the treatment of bradycardia, dopamine or epinephrine infusions are both classified equal in their effect (Class IIb LOE B) and either choice would be equally acceptable for the treatment of symptomatic bradycardia.
      The major difference would be that if you have a patient who is hypotensive along with the bradycardia, epinephrine would probably be a better choice to start with. This is due to the fact that epinephrine can simultaneously increase the heart rate and blood pressure. Whereas with dopamine, you have to titrate different doses to achieve either an increase in heart rate or increased blood pressure.
      I would not say that epinephrine is always preferred for everything. I have often seen a physicians first choice for hypotension or bradycardia be dopamine.
      Kind regards, Jeff

  13. SheilaK says

    The dopamine infusion rate – on the algorithm chart it states 2-10 mcg/kg/mn but on the information above in bold it states 2-20mcg/kg/mn. Which is the correct dose?

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Can you please let me know which “algorthm chart” you are asking about? The correct dosing is 2-20 mcg/kg/min.
      Is the 2-10 mcg/kg/min dosing you referenced from this website or another chart you are looking at?

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

      • Jeff with admin. says

        If you can provide the link to the algorithm you are looking at that would be great. I cannot locate any bradycardia algorithm on the site that lists dopamine infusion for bradycardia at 2-10 mcg/kg/min. The correct dosing is 2-20 mcg/kg/min. Kind regards, Jeff

    • Ren says

      EPI is for if BP >100 systolic
      Dopamine is used if BP <100 systolic

      That is, if TCP is unavailable or treatment is contraindicated.

      • britt says

        this is incorrect. Epi raises both HR and BP, dopa is better for raising HR but can also raise BP depending on the dosage.

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