Yes, you’re right about epinephrine being used on cardiac events. As for the atropine, I was right AND I was wrong. This is from Wikipedia:
“Resuscitation
Injections of atropine are used in the treatment of bradycardia (an extremely low heart rate). Atropine blocks the action of the vagus nerve, a part of the parasympathetic system of the heart whose main action is to decrease heart rate. Therefore, its primary function in this circumstance is to increase the heart rate. Atropine was previously included in international resuscitation guidelines for use in cardiac arrest associated with asystole and PEA, but was removed from these guidelines in 2010 due to a lack of evidence.[5] For symptomatic bradycardia, the usual dosage is 0.5 to 1 mg IV push, may repeat every 3 to 5 minutes up to a total dose of 3 mg (maximum 0.04 mg/kg).[6]”
I don’t keep up with this stuff, and a Wiki page isn’t a good source. But I DO know that any outpatient clinic doing this type of procedure needs a crash cart loaded with atropine and epi. Anything else is just a tragedy waiting to happen. (It goes without saying that someone qualified to push these meds should be included with the crash cart!)
I’ll be watching this developing story with interest. Mainly, I want to know why in the heck SOMEONE didn’t start CPR. And didn’t they have a portable defibrillator? These can even be operated by an untrained layperson and every mall in America has one now, so I hear. (Due to all the elderly mall-walkers.) There are just so many questions that need to be answered.
I wonder if she had a DNR order in place.