Isoprenaline in complete heart block patients during ambulance transport

Results 98 (69 male and 29 female) such patients were transported, and 13 were on Temporary Pacemakers. 97 were inter-hospital transfers. 43 (44.3%) patients were transported with Isoprenaline (average dose 2.7 mcg/min, range 1 to 8.2mcg/min); 8 with Dopamine, and 7 on external cardiac pacing. 30 patients were on Isoprenaline and 8 on Dopamine in previous hospitals, and the same drug with similar dose was initially continued in the ambulance. Out of the 84 patients transported without temporary pacemaker, 60 patients were transported within 20 km (travel time less than 30 minutes), 22 from distance between 50 to 100 km (average travel time 90 minutes) and 3 patients were transported beyond 100kms. The longest distance patients travelled with Isoprenaline infusion was 525 km (travel time 26 hours). 6 (14%) patients with Isoprenaline showed side effects and dose had to be reduced. Isoprenaline was replaced by Dopamine in one of them. 4 of them travelled distance between 60 to 70 km and 2 beyond 100 km. 34 (79%) patients with Isoprenaline achieved heart rates above 60/min.