Author Question: The potassium-sparing diuretic spironolactone (Aldactone) prolongs survival and improves heart ... (Read 58 times)

saraeharris · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The potassium-sparing diuretic spironolactone (Aldactone) prolongs survival and improves heart failure symptoms by which mechanism?

a. Blocking aldosterone receptors
b. Increasing diuresis
c. Reducing venous pressure
d. Reducing afterload

Question 2

A patient with moderate heart failure begins taking a thiazide diuretic. The nurse will tell the patient to expect which outcome when taking this drug?

a. Improved exercise tolerance
b. Increased cardiac output
c. Prevention of cardiac remodeling
d. Prolonged survival

Dnite · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Spironolactone prolongs survival in patients with HF primarily by blocking receptors for aldosterone. Spironolactone cause only minimal diuresis. Spironolactone does not reduce afterload, and it does not reduce venous pressure enough to prolong survival, because it causes only minimal diuresis.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Diuretics help reduce fluid volume overload which, by reducing pulmonary edema, can improve exercise tolerance. Diuretics do not improve cardiac output. ACE inhibitors are used to prevent cardiac remodeling and to improve long-term survival.