APE / CHF / Chestpain and Morphines roll???

Posted By Rick on February 04, 1998 at 15:25:38:









I'm really searching for information and maybe some articles to provide
a better understanding of the use of Morphine for the treatment of Acute
Pulmonary Edema / CHF and chestpain due to suspected AMI. I posted this
eariler so I'd like to ask again with the hope of getting a responce!
We currently use Morphine in conjunction with the usual diruetics,nitrates
and oxygen for the treatment of Conjestive Heart Failure. We also use it
in the treatment of Chestpain due to suspected AMI after nitro has been
initiated. In some areas the physicians have related that this drug masks
chestpain S/S and makes it difficult to diagnose AMI.  
My question is what are the percieved benefits of Morphines use in these
conditions and why or why should we not utilize MS in the field as a
treatment for these conditions. We get too many mixed opinions
on this subject and it makes it difficult to maintain an acurate reason
that we carry this drug for the treatment of these conditions.  
Thanks in advance for your opinion.
Rick