A patient is being evaluated in the emergency department for complaints of severe chest pain. The ECG confirms an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which drug would the nurse anticipate administering for the relief of chest pain?
a. Meperidine (Demerol)
b. Morphine
c. Aspirin
d. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
B
Morphine is the treatment of choice for STEMI-associated pain. Morphine can also improve he-modynamics through its combined effects on preload and afterload. As a result, cardiac oxygen demand is reduced, which helps preserve ischemic myocardium.
Meperidine and hydromorphone are not indicated for relief of cardiac chest pain.
Although aspirin substantially reduces mortality, it is not indicated for pain relief but rather for its ability to suppress platelet aggregation.
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