UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Does atropine prevent bradycardia during rapid sequence intubation in pediatric patients?

Keywords: Bradycardia, intubation, RSI, atropine (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/16/2021 by Jenny Guyther, MD (Updated: 12/26/2024)
Click here to contact Jenny Guyther, MD

Atropine has historically been used in the pediatric population as a premedication for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in order to prevent bradycardia. Recent research indicates that bradycardia that occurs during intubation may be driven by hypoxia as opposed to a vagal response. In 2002, the American Heart Association guidelines recommended pretreatment with atropine for all children younger than 1 year, children receiving succinylcholine, adolescents receiving a second dose of succinylcholine and anyone with bradycardia at the time of induction. The 2015 AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support guidelines revised the statement on atropine to say that "it may be reasonable for practitioners to use atropine as a premedication in specific emergency intubations when there is higher risk of bradycardia."

This study retrospectively looked at 62 patients who underwent rapid sequence intubation. 3 patients experienced a bradycardic event during intubation, 1 of which received atropine. 15 patients received atropine for pretreatment. The incidence of bradycardia was similar between those received atropine and those who did not.

Bottom line: Although atropine is generally considered safe, larger studies are needed to determine if there are any specific indications for atropine as a premedication in RSI or if atropine is needed at all for the prevention of bradycardia.

References

Kovacich et al. Incidence of bradycardia and the use of atropine in pediatric rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department. Pediatric emergency care. Published online 2021.