Friday, December 23, 2011

Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction pain is similar to anginal pain but differ in:

- Being more severe and prolonged and there may be sweeting, nausea and vomiting.

- Not relieved by rest or sublingual nitrates.

Treatment:

R/ Morphine ampoule diluted in 10 ml saline give 2 ml intravenous slowly immediately

Then refer the patient to a cardiologist or a hospital with a cardiology department for thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy.

ICCU = Intensive Cardiac Care Unit is needed.  

NB: 

- There are some bad things about MI.

1- It may be silent myocardial infarction and the patient complains only of dyspnea and or vomiting that is why cardiac assessment is important in any patient with dyspnea ECG.

2- Myocardial infarction may present with epigastric pain → the doctor may think it is a gastric problem so it is important to differentiate.

If gastric cause → there may be tenderness in epigastric area and the pain improves with zantac.

If cardiac cause there is no tenderness in epigastric area  as the pain is referred and the pain does not improve with zantac ECG.
         
- Nubain or Nalufin (Nalbuphine) has similar efficacy to morphine but with fewer side effects and less abuse potential.

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