Question: This question may be a very rare situation but I have not been able to get an answer from any paramedics I have asked. As per the “Patching” section in the introduction of the ALS PCS the literature states “BHP cannot be reached despite reasonable attempts by the paramedic to establish contact, a paramedic may initiate the required treatment without the requisite online authorization if the patient is in severe distress and, in the paramedics opinion, the medical directive would otherwise apply”. In a situation where a cardioversion is required and the unstable patient is still conscious, it is fairly common practice to ask for sedation and pain control (i.e. Morphine/Midazolam) along with orders for cardioversion. If multiple BH patches cannot be completed and in the paramedics opinion cardioversion is required for the unstable but conscious patient, are we able to administer sedation and pain control? I ask this because there is not a directive that directly deals with pain and sedation prior to delivering the cardioversion, but is common to ask for such direction.

Question: Can you give Ketorolac to a HTN patient (180 systolic)? The PCP directive states Normotension.

Question: We were presented with a patient on scene who stated she had fallen 2 hours prior. The fall was due to a slip on the ice. There was no LOC, no head injuries or any other neuro deficits. The patients vitals weren’t abnormal and was in a mild state of distress on scene. The only injuries noted were some wrist and knee pain, where there was no obvious deformity or injuries evident but stated both as 7/10 pain. She also mentioned her back was in moderate pain from the fall as well. My partner and I were unsure of whether to provide symptom relief for pain management. Yes there is trauma to 2 different extremities but it was the simultaneous back pain that threw a twist in, as the directive states that the patient must have “isolated hip or extremity trauma.” We were minutes from the hospital and I did ask the patient if the pain was tolerable until we got to the hospital where they would provide more effective pain management, but for future reference it would be nice to no! t have to think twice if put in this particular situation again.

Question: Is daily, low dose ASA considered towards ‘NSAID use in the past 6 hours,’ as per the Adult Analgesia Medical Directive?

Question: Under the Analgesia & Moderate to Severe Pain Protocol. What is the definition of cancer pain? And if they fall under the guidelines of cancer pain, what kind of relief would a half dose of Ketorolac provide seeing as they are probably on much stronger medications?

Question: In regards to the adult analgesia medical directive, it states “in patients with isolated hip or extremity trauma, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are preferred to ketorolac except where the patient is unable to tolerate oral medications.” It is my understanding that together, they provide similar pain relief to ketorolac. If the patient is in severe pain, but is unable to take acetaminophen due to a contraindication (ex. due to having taken some in the past 4 hours), is it appropriate to administer ketorolac instead? Or is it still preferred to administer just the Ibuprofen at this point.

Question: The PCP adult analgesia directive is for “isolated extremity injuries”, if there’s more than one injury is it a contraindication? For example, burns to more than one location (shoulder and a portion of the ant chest) or an ankle and a knee injury.

Question: In Ask MAC it states : “As for Ketorolac, daily ASA is not considered anticoagulation therapy as it affect platelet function and does not result in a true anticoagulated state.” So PLAVIX (clopidogrel) is also affect platelet function, even though ASA affects the cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) pathway, and PLAVIX affect the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) pathway, still I think both PLAVIX and ASA affect platelet function . And I think daily dose of PLAVIX also not a true anti-coagulated state and Ketorolac is not contra-indicated. Please let me know if I am right or wrong by those explanations.

Question: Under the Adult Analgesia Medical Directive, it indicates that for Mild-Moderate Pain, Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen should be considered. If the pain is mild-severe pain than ketorolac should be considered. If a patient is reporting severe pain as a result of isolated hip or extremity trauma, and the MOI is consistent with severe pain, does this mean that only ketorolac should be considered, regardless of the patients ability to tolerate oral medications?
The way that I read this is that Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen would not be indicated if the pain is severe.