Atropine-resistant bradycardia due to hyperkalaemia

Slade, Toby J.; Grover, J.; Benger, Jonathan

Abstract

Symptomatic sinus bradycardia is routinely treated in the emergency department with atropine and pacing. Two cases are presented that illustrate the importance of considering hyperkalaemia, particularly in the presence of atropine-resistant symptomatic bradycardia. The administration of calcium in such cases acts to stabilise the myocardium and resolve the bradycardia. Blood gas analysis provides a rapid estimate of serum potassium concentrations, facilitating timely treatment.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Jan 21, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 2, 2016
• Journal: Emergency Medicine Journal
• Print ISSN: 1472-0205
• Electronic ISSN: 1472-0213
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 611-612
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.2007.054114
• Keywords: atropine-resistant bradycardia, hyperkalaemia
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1008417
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.2007.054114
• Contract Date: Dec 2, 2016