Cardiac question

[rhan101277]

Nitro has not been shown to improve mortality in MIs, so I don't see the big push to give it, especially if you have a concern such as a right sided MI. To those who say give as long as the pressure is okay, the problem is that you can kick their cardiac output really quickly. So you might think "the patient is 110/80, I can give nitro no prob" and the next thing you know they are 80/40 and obtunded.

I think you are asking for trouble giving nitro to a known right sided MI, better to be giving beta blockers if in protocols since that saves lives. That and ASA.

I know this is off topic but

Who all likes using obtunded instead of altered level of consciousness? I guess if you are unresponsive you might as well be severely obtunded to.

 

[zmedic]

But you can be obtunded without being unresponsive. Obtunded means a reduced level of responsiveness, unresponsive means they don't even move to pain. You can be obtunded but still responsive.