ASA given for vasodilator effects?

[pm80]

I was talking to a recently graduated paramedic student the other day and he told me that they were being taught that you gave ASA to chest pain pt's for both anti platelet aggregation and vasodilation purposes . Is this something new? I definitely was not taught this. I looked it up in my drug reference and it did say that its analgesic effects were due to vasodilation but this can't seriously be a major systemic effect. If it was then it would be contraindicated for already hypotensive pt's.

I think he's confused and/or overanalyzing . But then again I've been wrong once or twice myself..

Thanks for any input

[Suninmyheart]

It is standard in our ER to have a chest pain pt chew ASA immediately upon arrival. On the cardio unit I work on ASA is a part of the MD's tx protocol for MI. I thought this was nationwide and well known? Perhaps not. I am a new nurse and have never worked anywhere else.

[pm80]

Maybe I should've elaborated better. ASA is a part of the AHA/ACLS standard for ACS pt's . It is used to inhibit platelet aggregation in the hope that this will prevent the thrombus from becoming any larger. This is what I've always been taught. He was saying that it also acts as a vasodilator and would have similar beneficial effects to NTG. I've never heard of that before and frankly have a hard time believing it's true based on the manner in which we give it. So basically I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something.

Thanks again

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

I've never heard that ASA has a vasodilator effect before!

[needsmore$]

I've never heard that ASA has a vasodilator effect before!

I've never heard of this either. I'm at work currently and asked the 2 docs who are on-they've never heard of that effect--

Not a citeable reference but these guys are pretty smart!:chuckle