Heart Blocks: A Primer

Heart blocks can be a sign of underlying pathology such as MI, Lyme disease, myocarditis, structural heart disease, pulmonary embolism, autoimmune disease, electrolyte disturbances, medication side effects, Lenegre’s or Lev’s disease, increased vagal tone, or could be a normal variant.
Treatment with Atropine is indicated in bradycardic, symptomatic and/or unstable patients with a 1st or 2nd-degree Mobitz type 1 AV block. It is unlikely to be effective in high-grade blocks as the block is usually below the AV node. Atropine can still be used as a temporizing measure while setting up for transcutaneous pacing and/or transvenous pacemaker placement in high-grade blocks
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