ANZCOR has released the updated Guideline 12.3 – Management of Other Arrhythmias in Infants and Children, refining recommendations for the recognition and treatment of paediatric arrhythmias outside of cardiac arrest.
A key update in this release is the consolidation of previous bradycardia guidance into a simplified management approach.
Updated guidance now recommends that infants and children with bradycardia and haemodynamic compromise, unresponsive to oxygenation and ventilation, should have CPR commenced promptly while following the standard paediatric advanced life support algorithm and treating reversible causes.
This replaces previous standalone recommendations regarding:
• IV/IO adrenaline for bradycardia with poor perfusion
• atropine for vagally mediated bradycardia
• transthoracic pacing in selected cases of complete heart block or sinus node dysfunction
The updated guideline reinforces the importance of early escalation and avoiding delays in CPR when bradycardia progresses with cardiovascular compromise.
The guideline also continues to provide detailed guidance for management of:
• supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
• ventricular tachycardia (VT)
• polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
• wide complex tachyarrhythmias in infants and children
These updates align with evolving international paediatric resuscitation evidence and contemporary PALS practice.
Read the full guideline update here:
Guideline 12.3 – Management of other arrhythmias in infants and children
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