A 47-year-old male has been admitted to the CCU from the emergency room with a history of sudden diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting and radiating pain down his left arm. He reports no significant medical history, and has been a two PPD smoker since his early twenties. His admitting diagnosis is UA/NSTEMI and he is being prepped for cardiac catheterization for possible angioplasty with stent placement. What type of medication orders might the nurse see prior to his procedure?
Clopidogrel and ASA
In 2011, a joint task force of the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association published updated guidelines for the treatment of unstable angina (UA) with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). These guidelines recommend that all patients with this diagnosis receive ASA on admission, and throughout hospitalization, if tolerated. If a patient is scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it is recommended that a second anti-platelet therapy be added, such as clopidogrel (Plavix).
