Air Methods Critical Care Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Guide to Master Your Certification!

Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) presenting with ST segment elevation greater than 2 mm in leads V2 and V3 are typically experiencing significant myocardial ischemia, often requiring timely intervention to restore blood flow to the affected coronary arteries. In these scenarios, thrombolytic therapy is indicated to dissolve the blood clots that are obstructing coronary blood flow.

Alteplase is a thrombolytic agent that is designed to break down clots by promoting the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, which helps dissolve fibrin and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Administering alteplase can help minimize the size of the infarct and improve patient outcomes if given within the appropriate time frame since the onset of symptoms.

In this context, the other medications, while useful in various settings, do not directly address the immediate need to dissolve the occluding thrombus. Heparin is an anticoagulant that may be used in conjunction with thrombolytics but does not dissolve clots. Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that can be important for heart rate control and reducing myocardial oxygen demand but is not a primary treatment for the acute obstruction. Furosemide, a diure