Which scenario is a contraindication to aspirin administration?

Which scenario is a contraindication to aspirin administration?

• A. Suspected Head Injury
• B. New fever with no other symptoms
• C. Diabetes mellitus
• D. Stable chest pain with normal ECG

Answer: (A)

Aspirin is an antiplatelet medication that helps in suspected heart attack by reducing clot formation, but it also raises the risk of bleeding. In a patient with a suspected head injury, giving aspirin can worsen an intracranial bleed and may mask neurologic changes by masking or accelerating bleeding. Because of that risk, head injury is a contraindication to aspirin in this scenario. The other situations do not carry the same bleeding risk. Fever alone, diabetes, or stable chest pain with a normal ECG do not indicate an active intracranial bleed or a contraindication to aspirin in typical EMS protocols, so aspirin isn’t contraindicated solely by those conditions.

Aspirin is an antiplatelet medication that helps in suspected heart attack by reducing clot formation, but it also raises the risk of bleeding. In a patient with a suspected head injury, giving aspirin can worsen an intracranial bleed and may mask neurologic changes by masking or accelerating bleeding. Because of that risk, head injury is a contraindication to aspirin in this scenario.

The other situations do not carry the same bleeding risk. Fever alone, diabetes, or stable chest pain with a normal ECG do not indicate an active intracranial bleed or a contraindication to aspirin in typical EMS protocols, so aspirin isn’t contraindicated solely by those conditions.