You are providing medical ground transport for a patient weighing 84 kg experiencing severe bradycardia. The patient's ECG shows a third-degree AV block. All of the following immediate methods of treating this condition may be used as initial treatment, except:

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Lidocaine infusion 1.0 mg/kg administered IO. Answer: Lidocaine infusion 1.0 mg/kg administered IO The ECG tracing for the patient in this scenario demonstrates a third-degree AV (atrioventricular) block, also referred to as a complete heart block. In complete heart block, there is no association between the P waves and any QRS complexes, as both the atrial and ventricular activity are being generated by distinct intrinsic pacemakers. The atria may be controlled by either sinus or ectopic pacemakers, while the ventricles are controlled by a pacemaker located distally to the AV block. Third-degree heart block is critical, and patients require immediate treatment. Ideally, symptomatic patients should be treated by use of transcutaneous or transvenous pacing if this is available. Medications which may be used as first-line treatment include: atropine, dosed at a rate of 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg and administered IV every 3 to 5 minutes (to a maximum dose of 3 mg); a dopamine infusion, dosed at a rate of 2 to 10 micrograms/kg/minute; or an epinephrine infusion, dosed at a rate of 2 to 10 micrograms/minute. Both dopamine and epinephrine infusions should be titrated until the patient demonstrates response to the medication.

You are providing medical ground transport for a patient weighing 84 kg experiencing severe bradycardia. The patient's ECG shows a third-degree AV block. All of the following immediate methods of treating this condition may be used as initial treatment, except:

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