Ventricular Fibrillation and Tachycardia after Intravenous Atropine for Treatment of Bradycardias

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Abstract
SLOWING of heart rate to 60 or fewer beats per minute not only may reduce the cardiac output but also may lead to ventricular irritability.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Both these complications are particularly undesirable in patients under treatment in intensive-coronary-care units. Consequently, under such circumstances it has become customary to accelerate the heart rate by the intravenous administration of atropine.4 5 6 , 8 9 10 The appearance of ventricular fibrillation in two patients and short bursts of repetitive ventricular firing in a third patient after intravenous administration of atropine in the space of three months indicates that the use of this drug may not be completely without risk. . . .