A 67-year-old male with severe chest pain is unable to speak full sentences; crackles are heard at the lung bases and his blood pressure is 96/52. Which medication should you administer first?

Get ready for the Paramedic Readiness Exam 5. Study with multiple-choice questions, detailed explanations, and effective strategies. Enhance your exam preparedness today!

Multiple Choice

A 67-year-old male with severe chest pain is unable to speak full sentences; crackles are heard at the lung bases and his blood pressure is 96/52. Which medication should you administer first?

In suspected acute coronary syndrome, giving aspirin early is crucial because it inhibits platelets and helps prevent further thrombus formation, reducing mortality. This patient has severe chest pain and signs that fit ACS, but his blood pressure is low (96/52), so nitrates would risk worsening hypotension and morphine can further depress respiration or blood pressure. Oxygen is important if he’s hypoxic, but without that data, the safest, most beneficial first move is aspirin. Administer chewable aspirin 160–325 mg unless there are contraindications (such as allergy or active GI bleed).

In suspected acute coronary syndrome, giving aspirin early is crucial because it inhibits platelets and helps prevent further thrombus formation, reducing mortality. This patient has severe chest pain and signs that fit ACS, but his blood pressure is low (96/52), so nitrates would risk worsening hypotension and morphine can further depress respiration or blood pressure. Oxygen is important if he’s hypoxic, but without that data, the safest, most beneficial first move is aspirin. Administer chewable aspirin 160–325 mg unless there are contraindications (such as allergy or active GI bleed).

More practice questions