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MedicASK Answers

Below you will find the latest answers by category.

Medical Directives

Analgesia
Articles: 4

Acetaminophen Administration After Nausea/Vomiting Has Resolved

07 March 2025
If we had a patient presenting with nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain who could not receive oral medications due to the vomiting and the medic treated with IM ketorolac and IM dimenhydrinate but throughout transport improved to no longer have any bouts of nausea/vomiting but was still in pain, would we be permitted to give acetaminophen since it is not contraindicated and would achieve the synergistic effect desired of giving an NSAID and acetaminophen.

Should opioid analgesia be considered for acute headache?

13 February 2025
Chronic headaches notwithstanding, is there indication for opiate analgesia in the severe acute headache, ie; thunderclap, first-time cluster etc., and if not why?

Antiplatelets and Analgesia

31 January 2025
Are antiplatelets, such clopidogrel/plavix, count as a contraindication to advil and ketorolac?

"Active Bleeding" When considering NSAID administration

23 January 2025
If a patient has an isolated closed fracture - for example, an isolated lower leg injury with obvious deformity making us suspect a tib/fib fracture - are they contraindicated for NSAIDS because there’s the possibility the broken bones can rupture blood vessels and cause internal bleeding (and thus the patient has “current active bleeding”)? Or can we administer NSAIDS to this type of patient?
Bronchoconstriction
Articles: 1

Rescue Prednisone vs. Dexamethasone

13 February 2025
Prior to our arrival on scene of a short of breath call, a clinic doctor gave a dose of prednisone for the acute reaction. The pt required full utilization of the bronchoconstriction medical directive, however because the prednisone was not prescribed and just given as an emergency dose, we were unclear if that was a valid contraindication for dexamethasone. As we were 4 minute transport time we decided to withhold due to uncertainty.
Cardiac Ischemia
Articles: 2

Can posterior STEMI (elevation in V8/V9) activate STEMI bypass?

14 March 2025
Is it possible to transport a patient directly to a PCI center under the STEMI bypass protocol based on a 15 lead showing an isolated posterior STEMI? It is my understanding that if a patient's 12-lead meets the provincial STEMI bypass criteria we can transport directly to the PCI center after calling the PCI team to advise them that we are coming. Does the directive allow us to follow the same process based on a 15-lead showing STEMI only in V8 and V9?

Aggrenox as a Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor

23 January 2025
Aggrenox is a combo drug of ASA and dipyridamole that may be prescribed to cardiac patients. However I just read that dipyridamole is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Just to confirm, does this mean patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions who are on Aggrenox are contraindicated for nitroglycerin administration? What if their doctor has prescribed them both Aggrenox and nitro?
Central Venous Access Device
Articles: 1

PICC line

26 November 2024
Are PICC lines considered central access lines and as an ACP can we only access them with the medications approved for CVAD administration and if they are in a pre-arrest or in cardiac arrest state (CVAD directive)?
Combative Patient
Articles: 1

Midazolam vs Ketamine for Hyperactive delerium

23 January 2025
So let's talk about combative patients. I feel like there's a bit of a knowledge/training gap in the implementation of the ketamine component of sedation. I get why we're administering a whack of dissociative to a highly violent and agitated pt - it's effective, and rapidly eliminates the immediate physical risk to pt and crew. But when we look at hyperactive delerium, and realize that the proximal cause in many (most?) cases is the use of stimulants/sympathomimetics, I wonder why our proscribed front-line med is one that has a not-insignificant risk of potentiating these effects. Would our benzo, midazolam, not be more appropriate in this situation particularly if the cause is rooted in stimulant use? Sure, we should be trying to establish a hx, but how exhaustive can one be when faced with an immediate threat? I just worry that we might be putting our pts at risk by effectively not addressing the underlying cause. Tldr; wouldn't Midaz be better for hyperactive delerium?
Hypoglycemia
Articles: 1

Can D10 be administered via the ETT route?

13 February 2025
In neonatal patients, obtaining IV access can be challenging, often requiring the use of an IO for D10W administration, which typically requires a base hospital patch. If IV or IO access is unavailable, would it be appropriate to administer D10W via the endotracheal tube (ETT)? If not, what are the physiological and pharmacological reasons for this (e.g., fluid viscosity, drug absorption)?
Intravenous Access
Articles: 2

What is considered normotensive when providing a bolus?

15 February 2025
When giving a bolus for hypotension what is considered "normotensive" or a systolic blood pressure that is considered acceptable to terminate the bolus. Of course assuming the pt is not symptomatic and no fluid overload.

IV/IO Access for Neonate Resuscitation

21 January 2025
For neonatal resuscitation, we have the option of IV or IO route for med administration. But even the 25 mm (Blue) IO needle is likely to be too large for a child under 24 hrs of age. Are there any limitations on our options for IV placement? I know there are a number of unusual spots utilized in infants by NICU staff, etc. but are we able to attempt cranial, saphenous, jugular, sites etc. for IVs given we usually haven't practiced or trained on them?
Cardiac Arrest
Articles: 3

Does which pad delivers the first shock in DSED matter?

14 March 2025
When performing DSED, should the first shock be delivered using the anterior-lateral or anterior-posterior pad placement? Or does the placement not significantly impact effectiveness? In the 2025 Double Sequential Review: Advanced Emergency Defibrillation Techniques (self-study 2025 package) at 16:34, the first shock is shown using the anterior-posterior placement. However, I recall you mentioning in an earlier video that the anterior-lateral placement is the recommended approach for the first shock. Could you please clarify which placement is most appropriate? Thank you.

New Evidence of Naloxone in Cardiac Arrest? No.

13 February 2025
The medical cardiac arrest medical directive states “There is no clear role for routine administration of Naloxone in confirmed cardiac arrest”. With the new emerging evidence on the administration of naloxone in the setting of opioid-overdose related PEA cardiac arrest, what is CEPCP’s stance on this treatment? And can Naloxone be administered in a opioid-overdose VSA presenting in PEA as long as high quality CPR and all other priorities are being managed accordingly?

Can Fire Dept. AED be used for dual sequential defib?

20 January 2025
Hi there, I'm a second year Fleming College paramedic student, Could you confirm that in dual sequential defibrillation, if no other paramedic monitor (Lifepak or Zoll) is available, an AED that the local fire department has on scene can be used? Have fire departments in Kawartha, Peterborough and Haliburton agreed and been informed?
Nausea/Vomiting
Articles: 2
Neonatal Resuscitation
Articles: 1

What is the reassessment interval following initiation of CPR on a newborn?

13 February 2025
Using the newborn resuscitation flowchart for PCP, once you've gone through 30s of warm/dry, reassess, ventilate for 30s, reassess, and then CPR for 30s. I read it as continuing reassessments every 30s. However, under NRP it states reassessments after 60s. Just wondering what the standard for time between reassessments is once we have moved to CPR. Does it differ for ACPs and PCPs. Thank you!
Opioid Toxicity
Articles: 1

Are BVM Ventilations Required Before Naloxone?

12 February 2025
Under the opioid toxicity directive, how should 'persistent need to assist ventilations' be interpreted? If a patient is experiencing decreased respiratory rate and oxygen saturation but has not yet received assisted ventilations, does this meet the criteria for naloxone administration? Or is there a requirement to attempt ventilation before naloxone can be given?
Trauma Cardiac Arrest
Articles: 1

Management of Traumatic Cardiac Arrest

12 February 2025
For trauma arrest, should we be continuing to analyze/shock after the first analyze if we are transporting as long as it does not delay transport to the hospital? Or is it only one defibrillation for the entire arrest? Also, are PCPAIVs allowed to give a fluid bolus or only ACPs?
STEMI
Articles: 2

STEMI in presence of LVH

23 January 2025
Does LVH mimic STEMI only because a larger-than-usual repolarization voltage typically follows a larger-than-usual negative QRS deflection? Or can it cause ST elevation by some other mechanism in other leads where we don't have that huge negative QRS we get in, say, V1? So if I have a pt with new onset of chest pain who meets LVH criteria based on their precordial voltages, but they have ST elevation in II, III, and aVF (especially if their inferior QRS complexes are also all upright), can I still STEMI bypass them? Related: what if a pt were to meet LVH criteria based only on R wave height in aVL, but their precordial lead voltages are normal. Does LVH in this case also cause ST elevation that can mimic an MI, or could I STEMI bypass this patient if they had chest pain and met STEMI criteria?

LVH & LBBB in relation to Elevation in v4R

23 January 2025
Do LVH and LBBB also affect the ST segment in V4R, potentially causing right-sided ST elevation that can mimic right ventricular infarct? I recently wanted to give nitro to a patient with the most classic cardiac ischemia symptoms you could ask for. He had LBBB that sounded potentially new onset, as well as 1mm of elevation in V4R - sign of RVI or mimic? I called the BHP to ask about whether I could/should give nitro in this case and, being put on the spot in the moment with a question about those right-sided leads almost nobody ever talks about, the doctor didn't know and couldn't look up an answer quickly (he ultimately said just make sure I have an IV first and then follow the nitro directive as usual - I did that, the patient's pressure stayed totally fine the whole time, and his chest pain improved somewhat). I'm wondering if there even is an established answer to this question, given a little more time to come up with it than the BHP had when I patched. Thank you!
Hyperkalemia
Articles: 1

Tourniquet for crush injury

23 January 2025
Is there any evidence to suggest applying a tourniquet to an individual whose sustained a prolonged crush injury to an extremity will improve outcomes before releasing them? This came up in the current CME with hyperkalemia in terms of an unconscious person laying on their limbs for prolonged time. Thanks!
Emergency Childbirth
Articles: 1

Oxytocin Administration

30 January 2025
Should oxytocin be administered if baby is delivered but the placenta has not been delivered. The conditions of administration I find aren't clear and are open for interpretation when they state "postpartum delivery and/or placental delivery" to me both of these options indicate after the placenta is delivered.

Patient Care

Professionalism

Paramedic Practice
Articles: 2

Can Palliative Medications be Utilized Outside of the Special Project?

14 February 2025
Is it permissible to administer palliative care medications, as outlined in the directive, to patients who are clinically appropriate for such treatment but are not enrolled in a palliative care program, following consultation with a Base Hospital Physician (BHP)? For example, administering hydromorphone for cancer-related pain in a patient currently prescribed this medication, or using haloperidol for delirium, agitation, behavioral issues, or as an antiemetic.

Skills videos

23 January 2025
Could you make videos on the proper way to draw and give all of our meds ACP and PCP. Thanks

Other

Other
Articles: 3

Gastric Port Suctioning Times

07 March 2025
I was just reviewing the Gastric port suctioning directive and it's mentioned that we can only suction for 15 seconds if "there are no gastric secretions". My two questions about this are: 1- If we are trying to remove air from the stomach, would it not appear as "no secretions" and if we have. suspicion of more air are we allowed to suction for greater than 15 seconds? 2- If we suspect heavy amounts of blood in the stomach, say from swallowing during a ruptured varricies event, should we be trying to remove that blood to avoid the body trying to vomit it up or do we stop suctioning once we see blood in case it's actually us causing damage?

Responsibility of Care

04 March 2025
If I have been called to support a PCP crew (not AIV) for ACP back up and find that the patient only needed PCP AIV level treatment/monitoring can my partner run the call with the primary crew or is the expectation that I attend as the higher medical authority?

Glucagon for Esophageal Obstruction

14 February 2025
Is it appropriate to patch for glucagon for esophageal obstructions or is there not enough supporting evidence for this?