Question

You respond to a medical call for a 59-year-old female complaining of tightness in her chest. You place her on a high concentration of oxygen and prepare for a short 5-minute transport to the hospital. The patient tells you she is on nitroglycerin, which she has not taken. Your partner tells you that you can give aspirin per protocol. Should you delay the patient transport to give the medication and why?

A) No, any delay will cause the patient more stress; she needs to be in a definitive care facility
B) No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage; each delay weakens the myocardium
C) Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the heart to beat stronger and restore some blood flow, and the aspirin will ease the pain
D) Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the aspirin will slow the clotting process.

Answer 1

Immediate transport should be prioritized to minimize the risk of complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage; each delay weakens the myocardium.

Giving aspirin to the patient can help in breaking up clots in the coronary arteries and improve blood flow. However, time is critical in cases of heart attack and delaying transport for medication administration may cause further damage to the heart muscle.

Therefore, in this situation, it is recommended to prioritize immediate transport to a definitive care facility to minimize the risk of complications.