Exercise echocardiography with addition of atropine

Atropine Augmentation of Treadmill Exercise Stress Echocardiography

“…No adverse events were associated with the use of atropine in this study. Similarly, Peteiro et al 4 administered atropine in doses of 0.25-2.0 mg to 31 patients undergoing treadmill exercise stress echocardiography who had a very small probability of achieving submaximal heart rate. Of these patients, 77% achieved target heart We have demonstrated a significant incremental benefit of atropine in augmentation of exercise heart rate, with a subsequent reduction in the number of nondiagnostic tests based on heart rate response when compared with historical controls.…”

“…Similarly to previously published studies, atropine was administered to patients who were unlikely or unable to achieve target heart rate. 4,[6][7][8] The supervising cardiologist, present for the full duration of the study, made a clinical assessment of the need for atropine based on patient query at each stage of exercise. This included an assessment of symptoms, heart rhythm, blood pressure, heart rate, and expectation of limiting fatigue.…”

“…While this threshold is not well validated in studies, the direct relationship between myocardial oxygen consumption and hemodynamic parameters is supportive of this heart rate goal. [3][4][5] However, these studies are significantly limited by their small sample size. Therefore, the American Society of Echocardiography recommends exercise stress rather than pharmacologic stress for patients who are capable of exercise.…”

“…2 Several small studies have shown that atropine augmentation in treadmill exercise stress echocardiography is a safe and feasible method for increasing the percentage of patients who reach their target heart rates, increases the time acquisition window after exercise, and may improve the rate of technically adequate tests. [3][4][5] However, these studies are significantly limited by their small sample size. This study aimed to assess the utility of atropine administration to augment the chronotropic response in a large cohort of patients undergoing treadmill exercise stress echocardiography.…”

Exercise echocardiography

“…This percentage can be reduced by using atropine during exercise, therefore reducing the need for pharmacological stress [21] . Atropine is particularly useful for patients with reduced resting heart rate as a result of β-blocker therapy, peripheral artery disease or arthropathies.…”