Cardiotonic Agents

Question 1

What is congestive heart failure

Answer 1

Condition in which the heart fails to effectively pump blood around the body

Question 2

What is the primary treatment for CHF

Answer 2

Involves helping the heart muscle to contract more efficiently to bring the system back into balance

Question 3

What are three underlying problems in HF involving muscle function

Answer 3

The muscle could be damaged
The muscle could be forced to work too hard to maintain an efficient output
The structure of the heart could be abnormal

Question 4

What is the composition of the sarcomere

Answer 4

Protein fibers

• thin actin fibers
• thick myosin fibers

Question 5

What are the compensatory mechanisms

Answer 5

Decreased cardiac output

Cellular changes

Question 6

What are the drugs used to treat CHF

Answer 6

Vasodilators (ACE inhibitors and nitrates)
Diuretics
Beta-Adrenergic Agonists

Question 7

What do cardiac glycosides do?

Answer 7

Increase intracellular calcium, allowing more calcium to enter the myocardial cell during depolarization

Question 8

What is the prototype for cardiac glycosides

Answer 8

Digoxin

Question 9

Check apical pulse and hold digoxin if apical is less than 60

Answer 9

True