Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of atropine to prevent vasovagal reaction during removal of femoral arterial sheaths

Study Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atropine in preventing vasovagal reactions (VVRs) during removal of femoral arterial sheaths after diagnostic left heart catheterization. Design. Prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Setting. University- affiliated, 450-bed teaching hospital. Patients. One hundred sixty-five patients undergoing left heart catheterization. Interventions. Eighty-eight patients were assigned to receive atropine 0.5 mg intravenously and 77 received placebo 5 minutes before sheath removal. Measurements and Main Results. The frequency of VVRs was significantly reduced in the atropine group compared with the placebo group, 2.3% and 10.4%, respectively (overall relative risk in the atropine group 0.22, 95% CI 0.12-0.41, p=0.03). Significant decreases in systolic (35.2 ± 5.8 mm Hg, p