A male client has been hospitalized with congestive heart failure. Medical management of heart failure focuses on improving myocardial contractility.
This can be achieved by administering:
A . Digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25 mg po every day
B . Furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg po every morning
C . O22 L/min via nasal cannula
D . Nitroglycerin (Nitrol) 1 inch topically every 4 hours
Answer: A
Explanation:
(A) Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside given to clients in heart failure to improve their myocardial contractility.
(B) Furosemide is a loop diuretic given to clients in heart failure to promote diuresis.
(C) O2is given to clients in heart failure to increase oxygenation and to prevent or treat hypoxemia.
(D) Nitroglycerin is a nitrate given to clients in heart failure to increase their cardiac output by decreasing the peripheral resistance that the left ventricle must pump against.