Question

Ms Berry is a 72-year-old female with a history of chronic stable angina and hypertension. She has control the hypertension and CSA with medications for the past three years. Ms Berry arrives at the ED with clinical manifestations of a myocardial infarction, including severe indigestion, palpitations, syncope, and shortness of breath. The healthcare team initiates the chest pain protocol, cardiac enzymes are drawn, and an ECG is completed. What is the purpose of initiating chest pain protocols for patients arriving in the ED with suspected him? What medications do you anticipate giving in the ED and why? (be sure to include pathophysiology in your answer) what are the risk factors for Mrs. Barry and why?(include pathophysiology in your explanation)

Answer 1

Answer: Chest pain can be the presenting complaint in a myriad of disorders ranging from life threats such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to mild self limiting disorders such as muscle strain. Possible cardac chest pain can be viewed as a continuum, ranging from total global AMI to simple short lived angina.

The initial ECG is performed and should be recorded as soon as possible and certainly within 10 minutes. Patient should be given aspirin unless he is contraindicated with ulcer or internal bleeding.

Heart patients are often treated with drugs called oral nitrates, such as Nitro-Dur and Isordil, in addition to other medications. The principal pharmacological action of nitroglycerin is relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and consequent dilatation of peripheral arteries and veins, especially the latter.