Why Is This Patient Profoundly Hypotensive?

Last Updated on February 27, 2019 by

A 70-year-old male is brought to the emergency department with subacute shortness of breath and fatigue. Upon searching her father’s home, his daughter reports she found his medication — a nearly empty bottle of metoprolol, 100 mg bid. She believes her father has coronary artery disease. On examination, the patient is confused. His blood pressure is 69/49 mmHg and he has a heart rate of 48 bpm. An ECG reveals the findings seen here. After initiating oxygen and atropine, which of the following is the best treatment for this patient’s presentation?

A. Dual anti-platelet therapy
B. Inamrinone
C. Glucagon
D. Epinephrine

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