title: [Physiopathologic mechanism of ventricular fibrillation induced by atropine. Report of two cases (author's transl)].
abstract: The authors report on two cases of ventricular fibrillation induced by bolus of atropine injected for diagnostic purpose. The electrophysiologic effect of adrenergic stimulation following the parasympathetic blockade, is probably the responsible mechanism rather than myocardial ischemia in the first patient, affected by complete a-v block with narrow QRS. The second patient, affected by coronary heart disease and suspected sick sinus syndrome, had more probably a ventricular fibrillation because of a worsening of the underlying myocardial ischemia due to the increase of the cardiac rate. the reported observations, together with those of other Authors, suggest that atropine, at least when used for diagnostic purpose, should be employed cautiously and preferably having available all the equipment for emergency treatment of cardiorespiratory arrest.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001285:Atropine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012848:Sinoatrial Block / Q000175:diagnosis; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D001285:Atropine
vernacular_title: Meccanismi fisiopatologici della fibrillazione ventricolare indotta dall'atropina. Osservazioni su due casi.