Ms. Loften is a 62 year old woman with cardiac risk factors including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, postmenopause, and exertional angina for four months. On admission, her medications included Aspirin q.d., Enalapril 20 mg b.i.d., Cardizem 300 mg q.d., Insulin mixed 70/30 with 60 units in the morning and 30 in the evening, and Atenolol 50 mg q.d., with an additional Simvastatin 10 mg q.h.s. She had a history of Penicillin allergy which gave her edema, and a deep venous thrombosis in 1994, chronic renal insufficiency, cholecystectomy and vitiligo. Her family history is significant for brothers who had myocardial infarctions in their 50's and 60's, and a mother who had a myocardial infarction when she was 69. She was admitted for premedication overnight prior to catheterization due to a previous allergic reaction to contrast dye that caused laryngeal edema. On examination, her chest pain radiates to her left arm, is associated with shortness of breath, but no diaphoresis or nausea or vomiting, and is relieved by rest within two minutes or by a sublingual Nitroglycerin, which she has used in the past week x two. The patient underwent successful balloon angioplasty of the mid left anterior descending artery stenosis from 70 percent to 10 percent and had a mild occurrence of chest pain post catheterization which was relieved with two sublinguals, and showed no electrocardiogram changes. On discharge, she was prescribed Aspirin 325 mg q.d., Enalapril 20 mg b.i.d., Cardizem 300 mg q.d., Insulin mixed 70/30 with 60 units in the morning and 30 in the evening, Atenolol 50 mg q.d., and Simvastatin 10 mg q.h.s. She was discharged in stable condition with an appointment the day after discharge with Dr. Mondone.
Why has the patient been prescribed nitroglycerin
is relieved by rest within two minutes or by a sublingual Nitroglycerin,