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So atropine is an anticholinergic or anti-parasympathetic sometimes referred to as a parasympatholytic drug. A parasympatholytic agent is a substance or activity that reduces the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. Now the parasympathetic nervous system is often conversationally described as the "Rest and Digest" portion of the autonomic nervous system. Atropine blocks that action. Atropine is one of a few ACLS medications that can be delivered via endotracheal tube, vascular access, however, in most cases would be the preference. Atropine is the drug of choice for symptomatic sinus bradycardia and may be beneficial in the presence of atrioventricular nodal blocks. It’s well known that atropine use during Pulseless Electrical Activity otherwise known as PEA and Asystole usually doesn’t really have a therapeutic benefit. Let’s not forget that Atropine will most likely not affect type 2 second-degree or third degree AV blocks or a block in non-nodal tissue as well. So for bradycardia, with or without Acute Coronary Syndrome give atropine 1 mg every 3-5 minutes as needed, not to exceed a total dose of .04 mg per kg to a total of 3mg. It’s recommended to use a shorter dosing interval such as every 3 minutes and higher doses in severe clinical conditions. But for organophosphate poisoning 2 to 4 mg or higher to actually reverse those life-threatening symptoms of such a poisoning. The good news is intraosseous administration has been found to be just as effective as intravenous infusion for rapid delivery of atropine. Now because large amounts of atropine may be required for patients with organophosphate poisoning, reconstitution of powdered atropine may be a viable option, especially when we’re talking about mass-casualty settings. Remember to utilize personal protective equipment while treating patients of organophosphate toxicity to reduce or prevent the risk of cross-contamination of rescuers.
In this lesson, we'll go over the medication atropine and all of its effects, including indications, precautions and contraindications, and adult dosages. At the end of this lesson, we provide a Word about the various routes of access for drug administration.
Atropine sulfate is an anticholinergic or antiparasympathetic, sometimes referred to as a parasympatholytic drug. A parasympatholytic agent is any substance or activity that has the effect of reducing the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Pro Tip #1: An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at synapses in the central and the peripheral nervous system. These agents inhibit parasympathetic nerve impulses by selectively blocking the binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to its receptor in nerve cells.
The parasympathetic nervous system is often described as the rest and digest part of the autonomic nervous system. Atropine works by blocking this action.
The autonomic nervous system is a control system that acts mostly unconsciously as it regulates bodily functions, such as the heart rate, respiratory rate, pupillary response, digestion, urination, and sexual arousal.
Now let's take a look at some indications for atropine.
Atropine is one of the few ACLS medications that can be delivered via an endotracheal tube. However, vascular access is still the preferred route and, in most cases, would be the preference.
Pro Tip #2: Atropine should be your first choice of treatment of symptomatic sinus bradycardia, as it may be the most beneficial in the presence of atrioventricular nodal blocks.
There are a couple of precautions and contraindications when it comes to administering atropine.
It is well known that atropine use during pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole usually has no therapeutic benefit. Also important to remember, is that atropine most likely will not affect type 2, 2nd degree or 3rd degree AV blocks or blocks in non-modal tissue.
Let's take a closer look at the adult dose of atropine.
For bradycardia with or without acute coronary syndrome (ACS), administer 1 mg of atropine every 3 to 5 minutes or as needed. And make sure not to exceed a total dose of 0.04mg/kg or a total of 3 mg.
Pro Tip #3: It's recommended to use a shorter dosing interval, such as every 3 minutes, and higher doses in severe clinical conditions.
For organophosphate poisoning, you may need to use 2 – 4mg of atropine or higher to reverse the life-threatening symptoms of such a poisoning.
The good news, as it relates to administering atropine, is that giving the drug via the intraosseous (IO) route has been found to be just as effective as intravenous (IV) infusion for rapid delivery of the drug.
Pro Tip #4: Because large amounts of atropine may be required in patients with organophosphate poisoning, reconstitution of powdered atropine may be a viable option, especially when there is a mass casualty setting.
Warning: It's also important to remember to utilize your personal protective equipment when treating patients with organophosphate toxicity to reduce and prevent the risk of cross-contamination with other rescuers.
In this Word, we'll look at the priorities of access routes along with some specifics concerning the intravenous route. In the following Word section in the dopamine lesson, we'll finish up by looking at both the intraosseous route and the endotracheal route, along with a little information on fluid administration.
The obvious priorities during cardiac arrest are high-quality CPR and early defibrillation. While the insertion of an advanced airway and drug administration are of secondary importance.
It's important to understand that no drug given during cardiac arrest has been shown to improve survival rates to hospital discharge or improved neurologic function after cardiac arrest.
Historically in ACLS, healthcare providers have administered medications via either the IV or endotracheal route. However, endotracheal absorption of medications is poor and unpredictable which makes optimal drug dosing problematic. Because of this, the IV or IO route will always be preferred.
A peripheral IV will be preferred for medication and fluid administration unless central line access is already available. However, central line access isn't necessary during most resuscitation attempts.
Central line access could cause interruptions in CPR and complications during insertion, including vascular laceration, hematomas, and bleeding. Also, insertion of a central line in a non-compressible vessel is a relative, but not absolute, contraindication to fibrinolytic therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Establishing a peripheral line, by contrast, does not require an interruption of CPR. Drugs, however, typically require 1 to 2 minutes to reach the central circulation when administered via the peripheral IV route.
If a medication is administered via the peripheral venous route, administer it as follows: