What is the most appropriate treatment for a patient experiencing bradycardia and hypotension after sheath removal?

In cases of bradycardia accompanied by hypotension, administering atropine intravenously is often the most appropriate treatment. Atropine is an anticholinergic medication that works by inhibiting the action of the vagus nerve on the heart, leading to an increase in heart rate. This makes it particularly relevant when bradycardia, or a slow heart rate, is contributing to hypotensive conditions.

Bradycardia can lead to decreased cardiac output, which may result in hypotension. The use of atropine is indicated because it addresses the root cause of the symptoms: the bradycardic heart rate. The drug’s rapid action helps to stabilize the heart rate and, consequently, can improve blood pressure.

While increasing intravenous fluid rates can be beneficial in certain situations to manage hypotension, it does not directly address the underlying bradycardia. Sedation could potentially exacerbate the bradycardia or hypotension rather than alleviate it, as sedative medications may further depress heart rate and respiratory drive. Calling for emergency assistance may be necessary as a general protocol in critical cases, but the immediate treatment necessary to address the patient’s bradycardia is the administration of atropine. Thus, in the context of this scenario