Clinical relevance of acute bradycardia is driven by symptoms and not primarily by the reported decreased heart rate. Bradycardias may remain asymptomatic especially due to compensatory mechanisms (in particular increase of left ventricular ejection fraction). Nearly half of acute bradycardias have a reversible cause. Detection of potential reversible bradycardia causes is therefore regarded as the cornerstone of bradycardia treatment in the emergency setting. Effective therapies for the treatment of acute bradycardia are available, including intravenous chronotropic drugs and pacemaker implantation.
Keywords: Cardiac arrest; Cardiac arrhythmia; Heart disease; Pacemaker, artificial; Rhythmological emergencies.