McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

712

P A R T 8  Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system

O’Donovan, K. (2012). Amiodarone and its role in arrhythmia. Nurse Prescribing, 10(5) , 241–246. Porth, C. M. (2011). Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States (3rd edn). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Porth, C. M. (2009). Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States (8th edn). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Samardhi, H., Santos, M., Denman, R., Walters, D. L. & Bett, N. (2011). Current management of atrial fibrillation. Australian Prescriber, 34(4) , 100–104. Swift, J. (2013). Assessment and treatment of patients with acute tachyarrhythmia. Nursing Standard, 28(5) , 50–59.

C H E C K Y O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G

6. A person is brought into the emergency department with a potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Immediate treatment might include: a. a loading dose of digoxin. b. injection of quinidine. c. bolus and titrated doses of lignocaine. d. a loading dose of propafenone. MULTIPLE RESPONSE Select all that apply. 1. The conduction system of the heart includes which c. atrial bundles d. Purkinje fibres e. coronary sinus f. bundle of His 2. Arrhythmias or dysrhythmias can be caused by which of the following? a. lack of oxygen to the heart muscle cells b. acidosis near a cell c. structural damage in the conduction pathway through the heart d. vasodilation in the myocardial vascular bed e. thyroid hormone imbalance f. electrolyte imbalances of the following? a. sinoatrial node b. sinuses of Valsalva

Answers to the questions in this chapter can be found in Appendix A at the back of this book.

MULTIPLE CHOICE Select the best response to the following. 1. Cardiac contraction and relaxation are controlled by: a. a specific area in the brain. b. the sympathetic nervous system. c. the autonomic nervous system.

d. spontaneous impulses arising within the heart. 2. Antiarrhythmic drugs alter the action potential of the cardiac cells. Because they alter the action potential, antiarrhythmic drugs often: a. cause heart failure. b. alter blood flow to the kidney. c. cause new arrhythmias. d. cause electrolyte disturbances. 3. Because of the results of the CAST study: a. antiarrhythmics are now more widely used. b. antiarrhythmics are used as prophylactic measures in situations that might lead to an arrhythmia. c. antiarrhythmics are no longer used in Australia. d. antiarrhythmics are reserved for use in cases of life-threatening arrhythmias. 4. The drug of choice for the treatment of a supraventricular tachycardia associated with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome is: a. digoxin. b. verapamil. c. lignocaine. d. adenosine. 5. A person who is receiving an antiarrhythmic drug needs: a. constant cardiac monitoring until stabilised. b. frequent blood tests, including drug levels. c. an antidepressant to deal with the psychological depression. d. dietary changes to prevent irritation of the heart muscle.