Atropine preoperative medication

Which of the following adverse reactions would the nurse expect after file administration of atropine as part of a patient s preoperative medication regimen ... 

Sradycard/a Atropine is used in the suppression of vagally mediated bradycardias. Preoperative medication Atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and glycopyrrolate are used as preanesthetic medication to control bronchial, nasal, pharyngeal, and salivary secretions and to block cardiac vagal inhibitory reflexes during induction of anesthesia and intubation. Scopolamine is used for preanesthetic sedation and for obstetric amnesia. 

The use of atropine became part of routine preoperative medication when anesthetics such as ether were used, because these irritant anesthetics markedly increased airway secretions and were associated with frequent episodes of laryngospasm. Preanesthetic injection of atropine or scopolamine could prevent these hazardous effects. Scopolamine also produces significant amnesia for the events associated with surgery and obstetric delivery, a side effect that was considered desirable. On the other hand, urinary retention and intestinal hypomotility following surgery were often exacerbated by antimuscarinic drugs. Newer inhalational anesthetics are far less irritating to the airways. 

Perhaps the most widely knowm agent to alter cholinergic transmission is the belladonna alkaloid, atropine. This agent is relatively selective for muscarinic receptors and as such decreases exocrine gland secretion, smooth muscle tone and the effects of vagal nerve stimulation of the heart. Atropine has several clinical applications including use as a preoperative medication, post-myocardial infarction to increase heart... 

Preoperative treatment with atropine can prevent a dangerous reduction in heart rate, and it dries secretions, which is needed during surgery. The nurse should not question administering this medication. 

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