Symptomatic bradycardia on the monitor means what?
- Symptomatic bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60 bpm that elicits signs and symptoms, but the heart rate will usually be less than 50 bpm. Symptomatic bradycardia exists when the following 3 criteria are present:
2.) The patient has symptoms
3.) The symptoms are due to the slow heart rate.
Medications Used:
Atropine: The first drug of choice.
Dopamine: Second-line drug, when atropine is not effective. Given as an infusion. Epinephrine: Can be used as an equal alternative to dopamine when atropine is not effective. Also given as an infusion.