Lifestyle Issues in Cardiac Health
Management After Chest Pain
Mr. Fowler is given a 325 mg aspirin tablet to chew and .4 mg of nitroglycerin sublingually. Oxygen is provided by nasal prongs. Intravenous access is achieved, and blood specimens are obtained for measurement of serum chemistries, CK, CK-MB, troponin I, and complete blood count. Intravenous heparin is administered, initially with a 5,000 bolus followed by an infusion of 1,000 units per hour. Metoprolol 5 mg is administered intravenously.
Because of persistent pain, morphine sulfate 4 mg is administered intravenously. When his chest pain persists, nitroglycerin is administered intravenously, initially with a 25 ug bolus followed by an infusion of 20 ug per minute. Soon thereafter the pain significantly improves.
Questions
- What are the potential adverse effects of the medications provided?
- What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of thrombolytic therapy and angioplasty?
- What are the complications of his condition?