What is atropine used for in cardiac arrest?
In cardiac arrest it is given to reverse asystole and severe bradycardia. The Resuscitation Council recommends that atropine be given for pulseless electrical activity with a rate of less than 60 beats per minute or in complete asystole.
Is atropine still used in cardiac arrest?
Even though the routine use of atropine for cardiopulmonary arrest has not been recommended since the publication of the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC), the two selected emergency medical physicians in our emergency center have always routinely used …
Why is atropine used in emergency?
It is used in emergency situations when the heart beats too slowly, as an antidote to for example organophosphate insecticide or nerve gas poisoning and in mushroom poisoning. It can be used as part of the premedication before general anaesthesia.
How is amiodarone administered in cardiac arrest?
Cardiac Arrest: First dose: Give 300 mg (6 mL) IV direct UNDILUTED. A filter is not required for IV direct administration. Second dose: If patient remains in pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation 5 minutes after the first dose, give a second dose of amiodarone 150 mg (3 mL).
When do you give atropine?
Atropine is the first-line therapy (Class IIa) for symptomatic bradycardia in the absence of reversible causes. Treatments for bradydysrhythmias are indicated when there is a structural disease of the infra-nodal system or if the heart rate is less than 50 beats/min with unstable vital signs.
How is atropine administered?
Atropine is administered by intravenous injection or intramuscular injection. Other pharmaceutical forms/strengths may be more appropriate in the cases where a dose above 0.5 mg is required.
How do you administer atropine injection?
Atropine can be administered by intravenous (IV), subcutaneous, intramuscular, or endotracheal (ET) methods; IV is preferred. For ET administration, dilute 1 mg to 2 mg in 10 mL of sterile water or normal saline before administration. For pediatric ET, double the usual IV dose and dilute in 3 to 5 mL.
How do you administer amiodarone?
To treat all acute tachyarrhythmias in adults, amiodarone can be given IV 150 mg over 10 minutes, followed by a 1 mg/min infusion for 6 hours, followed by an infusion at 0.5 mg/min. The recommended total dose over 24 hours should not exceed 2.4 grams.
How do you inject atropine?
First Dose: If you have or see someone with 2 or more mild symptoms listed in Table 1 and exposure is known or suspected, give 1 injection of Atropine into the outer thigh using the Atropine autoinjector. You can inject through clothing, but make sure pockets at the injection site are empty.
When do we give atropine?
Atropine is usually given as soon as possible after the onset of poisoning symptoms. You may be watched for up to 72 hours to make sure the medicine has been effective and you no longer have any effects of the poison.
When is atropine given for cardiac arrest?
The Resuscitation Council recommends that atropine be given for pulseless electrical activity with a rate of less than 60 beats per minute or in complete asystole. This drug should be administered intravenously and the dose depends on the heart rhythm.
What does atropine do to the heart?
The action of this drug is to block the effect of the vagus nerve on the heart. This nerve normally slows heart rate and, during cardiac arrest, is a common cause of asytole. Atropine also acts on the conduction system of the heart and accelerates the transmission of electrical impulses through cardiac tissue.
How do you administer atropine to a patient?
Administration Atropine can be administered by intravenous (IV), subcutaneous, intramuscular, or endotracheal (ET) method; IV is preferred. For ET administration, dilute 1 mg to 2 mg in 10 mL of sterile water or normal saline before administration.
Can atropine be given by an endotracheal tube?
If IV access cannot be obtained then atropine can be given by an endotracheal tube at a dose two to three times as high as that given intravenously.