What is an immediate treatment for a patient with bradycardia presenting with hypotension?

In a patient experiencing bradycardia accompanied by hypotension, atropine administration serves as an immediate and effective treatment. Atropine is an anticholinergic agent that works by blocking the vagus nerve’s effects on the heart, thereby increasing heart rate. When bradycardia is significant enough to cause hypotension, it indicates that the heart is not pumping adequately to maintain sufficient blood flow and pressure.

Administering atropine can help restore a more effective heart rate and improve cardiac output, stabilizing the patient's hemodynamics. This is particularly crucial in emergency situations where rapid response is necessary to prevent further complications, such as decreased organ perfusion.

Other options like dopamine infusion can also be used in cases of bradycardia but typically serve as secondary or additional interventions rather than immediate treatments to increase heart rate. Defibrillation and cardioversion are not indicated in bradycardia situations; they are used primarily for tachyarrhythmias. Thus, the use of atropine is the most appropriate first-line treatment in this scenario.