I am not a cardiac nurse but isn't ASA supposed to be DCd

[MargRN]

I am not a cardiac nurse but isn't ASA supposed to be DCd prior to a cardiac catheterization?

My family member is 72 years old and taking ASA 325mg. He's also on Toprol XL 200 mg QD, HCTZ (I need to check dosing), Lipitor, and just started Vasotec 2.5mg.

I hate not being "up" on cardiac information. I remember in nursing school (grad with BSN in '95) that the main thing we watched for was after the procedure at the groin site for bleeding. ASA seems like it should be stopped but the cardiologist's nurse said to continue taking it as normal.

I am seeing red flags but not sure what to do. The cath is scheduled for next week.

Thanks for any help or links.

[CCURN]

Pre cath, we usually give 325 aspirin, IV heparin gtt, and then post procedure, plavix 600mg loading dose, then 75mg QD, Integrillin gtt, and then continue the heparin gtt if the EF is less than 35%. Of course it depends on the cardiologist.

If the patient is coming from a facility that is 90 minutes or more to the cath lab then they get full or half dose lytic.