Abstract
Myocardial infarction is, in essence, the death of a portion of heart muscle. Surrounding this is a portion of injured, but still viable, tissue on which depends the degree of healing and often the clinical course of the patient. As in any injury, the basic goal of therapy is rest; unlike a fractured bone or an inflamed hand, however, the heart cannot be immobilized. The practical goal must therefore be to reduce its work to a minimum by resting the entire patient. Key roles are played by relief of pain, sedation, and environmental control. Pain.— As soon as a diagnosis of coronary occlusion seems likely, the immediate task is to control the pain that is almost invariably present. When pain is severe and apprehension is marked, the drug of choice is morphine sulfate. Under less trying conditions, meperidine (Demerol) is preferable because of its less frequent side effects of nausea,
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