CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM CHF treatment

Question 1

How does digoxin become beneficial for CHF?

Do we want these patients to diurese? why?

what is the normal digoxin level?

Answer 1

• increases contractility , decreases heart rate (which will give the heart more time for ventricles to fill with blood) and increases cardiac output
• yes, pee. they cannot handle volume.
• 0.5 -2.0

Question 2

early signs of dig toxicity?

late signs?

Answer 2

• anorexia
• nausea
• vomiting

Late= arrhythmias and rhythm changes (halos, or everything looks yellow or another color)

Question 3

before administering digoxin, what must you do?

Answer 3

check the apical pulse for a full 60 seconds (mid clavicular line, 5th intercostal space)

Question 4

Which electrolyte is MOST important to monitor? why?

Answer 4

potassium; dig + hypokalemia= toxicity

Question 5

DIURETICS:

lasix, bumex, and diazide are all___.

diuretics are given to decrease___ in CHF patients.

Which drug is given to decrease aldosterone levels?

What time of day should diuretics be given?

Answer 5

• diuretics
• preload

- aldactone

• in the morning

Question 6

Can these patients eat canned / processed food, and otc drug?

why do we have to watch salt substitutes?

Answer 6

no! has a lot of sodium

-they have a lot of potassium

Question 7

Nursing interventions:

head of Bed position?

weigh the patient daily, and report weight gain of __ to___ pounds.

Answer 7

• elevate head of bed;

will help increase cardiac output and decrease workload. 2-3 lbs