Bradycardia: Difference between revisions

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==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
==Treatment==
===Urgent Treatment===
* Check drug list and remove drugs predisposing to bradycardia like [[beta blockers]], [[calcium channel blocker]], anti-arrhythmic drug.
* Drug treatment for bradycardia is typically not indicated for patients who are asymptomatic.
* In symptomatic patients, underlying electrolyte or [[acid-base disorders]] or [[hypoxia]] should be corrected first.
* IV [[atropine]] may provide temporary improvement in symptomatic patients, although its use should be balanced by an appreciation of the increase in myocardial oxygen demand this agent causes. [[Atropine]]  0.5-1 mg IV or ET q3-5min up to 3 mg total (0.04 mg/kg)
====Indications For a Temporary Pacemaker====
Advanced [[heart block]] such as [[complete heart block]] is an indication for a temporary [[pacemaker]] insertion.
===Chronic Management===
There are two main reasons for treating brandycardia:
#With bradycardia, the first is to address the associated symptoms, such as [[Fatigue (physical)|fatigue]], limitations on how much an individual can physically exert, [[fainting]] (syncope), [[dizziness]] or [[lightheadedness]], or other vague and non-specific symptoms.
#The other reason to treat bradycardia is if the person's ultimate outcome (prognosis) will be changed or impacted by the bradycardia.
Treatment in this vein depends on whether any symptoms are present, and what the underlying cause is.
Primary or [[idiopathic]] bradycardia is treated symptomatically if it is significant, and the underlying cause is treated if the bradycardia is secondary.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 04:09, 27 August 2012