Post—paracervical block bradycardia: Its prediction and preventability

The fetal heart rate recordings of 100 parturients given PCB with less than 200 mg. of lidocaine were reviewed. No PCB bradycardia occurred if there were no pre-PCB FHR decelerations (92 per cent accuracy). In an effort to prevent post-PCB bradycardia, atropine was given in the maternal paracervical area and also intravenously. The most effective dose was 1.0 mg. intravenously, but the prophylactic efficiency of atropine was uncertain in preventing the post-PCB bradycardia.