The effect of adrenergic receptor blocking agents on arrhythmia caused by trauma.

Experiments on animals have shown that blunt trauma to the anterior chest wall causes arrhythmia and conduction disturbances. In most cases nodal rhythm and ST segment elevation were observed. Microscopic examination disclosed myocardial damage in the vicinity of the atrioventricular node. Administration of alpha or beta adrenergic receptor blocking agents immediately before trauma failed to prevent arrhythmia and conduction disturbances, on the contrary, they became even more pronounced.