Highlights the importance of recognizing physiological bradycardia and junctional rhythms in athletes during anesthesia, which respond to atropine.
Atropine may restore sinus rhythm in athlete junctional bradycardia under anesthesia; single case leaves broader applicability and safety unproven.
A 36-year-old athlete was anaesthetised for a minor surgical procedure. His heart rate fell to 30 beats/minute during the operation, the electrocardiogram showed A-V junctional rhythm. Sinus rhythm of 58 beats/minute was restored by atropine 1.2 mg. His resting 12-lead electrocardiogram showed sinus bradycardia and features consistent with a diagnosis of 'athlete's heart'. A review is presented of the physiological and electrocardiographical features of this phenomenon. The current popularity of running as a leisure pursuit makes it important that anaesthetists recognise the peculiarities of the trained athletic heart.
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Bullock et al. (1985) studied this question.
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