Agents for treating Heart Failure Flashcards
What are the 4 stages of Heart Failure?
- Stage A: High risk for HF, but no structural disease or symptoms
- Stage B: Structural heart disease (ie., enlarged heart), but NO signs or symptoms of disease
- Stage C: Structural heart disease with prior or current symptoms of HF
- Stage D: Refractory HF requiring specialized interventions
What are the 4 Functional Classes of Heart Failure?
- Class I: No limitation of physical activity
- Class II: Slight limitation of physical activity
- Class III: Marked limitation of physical activity
- Class IV: Unable to perform any physical activity without symptoms, or symptoms at rest
Causes of
Congestive Heart Failure
Dysfunction of the cardiac muscle brought on by:
* Coronary Artery Disease
* Cardiomyopathy
* Hypertension
* Valvular Heart Disease
What are the compensatory mechanisms for Heart Failure?
- Decreased cardiac output
- Sympathetic stimulation
- Positive inotropic effect (process or drug that causes a stronger muscle contraction)
- Release of renin
Effects of these compensatory methods:
* Muscle stretches or becomes thicker (hypertrophy)
* Chambers are not able to effectively pump blood
* Leads to worsened heart failure
What drugs are used to treat CHF?
Cardiotonic (inotropic) drugs
* Cardiac glycosides
* Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
* HCN Blocker: Hyperpolization-activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated
Combination Drugs
* Angiotension Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI)
Lifespan Considerations for Heart Failure Agents
In Children
- Digoxin is used
- Dosage should be double checked by another nurse
- DO NOT use phosphodiesterase inhibitors
- HCN blockers used for stable symptomatic HF (as young as 6 months old)
Lifespan Considerations for Heart Failure Agents
In Adults
- Instruct patients to take their pulse
- Daily weights
- Avoid switching between brands of digoxin
- Avoid pregnancy and lactation
- Report any dietary or GI medication changes to provider
Lifespan Considerations for Heart Failure Agents
In Older Adults
In additon to adult considerations:
* More susceptible to digitalis (digoxin) toxicity
* Adjust dose for renal impairment
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Mechanism of Action
- Increases intracelluar calcium
- Allows more calcium to enter the myocardial cell during depolarization
- Positive inotropic effect (stronger muscle contraction)
- Increased renal perfusion, with a diuretic effect leading to a decrease in renin
- Slowed conduction through the AV node
Overall: Increased Cardiac Output
Cardiac Glycosides
Drug Name
Digoxin
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Indications
- Treatment of Heart Failure
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Contraindications
Absolute:
* Allergy
* Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation
* Heart Block or sick sinus syndrome
* Ideopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
* Acute MI
* Renal insufficiency, Electrolyte Abnormalities
Caution:
* Pregnancy and lactation
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Adverse Effects
- CNS: Headache, weakness, drowsiness, vision changes
- GI: upset, anorexia
- CV: arrythmia development
- Digoxin toxicity (DigiFab is the antidote)
What is the antidote for Digoxin?
DigiFab
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Drug Interactions
Numerous
Some are: Diuretics, thryoid meds, antacids
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Assessment
History:
* Contraindications or cautions (allergy, vtach, heart block, sick sinus syndrome, acute MI, renal insufficiency, electrolyte abnormalities, ideopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, pregnancy, lactation)
Physical:
* Obtain baseline weight and daily weights
* Pulse, BP, heart sounds, ECG
* Skin and mucous membranes, cap refill
* CNS: affect, orientation, reflexes
* Respiratory rate and lung sounds
* Abdomen for distension, bowel sounds, voiding patterns, urinary output
Labs:
* Digoxin levels
* serum electrolyte levels
* renal function tests
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Nursing Diagnoses/Conclusions
- Altered heart rate (r/t cardiac effects)
- Impaired comfort (r/t GI upset)
- Risk of altered perfusion (r/t dysrhythmias)
- Injury risk (r/t CNS effects)
- Knowledge deficit
Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin
Implementation/Patient Teaching
- Monitor apical pulse for one minute, hold if under 60 bpm
- Monitor pulse for change in quality or rhythm
- Check dose, especially pediatric dose carefully
- Administer IV doses slowly over at least 5 minutes, avoid IM administration
- Daily weights at the same time each day
- Avoid administering with food or antacids
- Maintain emergency equipment on hand (potassium salts, lidocaine, phenytoin, atropine, and a cardiac monitor)
- Watch digoxin levels as ordered. Therapeutic dose is 0.5-2 ng/mL
- Stress importance of follow up appts.