Answer :
Final answer:
The nurse should question the order of Potassium chloride when a patient is administered spironolactone for portal hypertension and portal systemic encephalopathy, due to the risk of hyperkalemia. Thus the correct option is option a. Potassium chloride.
Explanation:
The question asks which additional medication order a nurse should question if a patient is being administered spironolactone for portal hypertension and portal systemic encephalopathy. Among the options given, the medication to question is Potassium chloride. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that works by inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, which can lead to an increase in potassium levels in the body. Therefore, administering potassium chloride in addition to spironolactone could potentially lead to hyperkalemia (excess potassium in the blood), which is a dangerous condition. On the other hand, medications like Lactulose and Neomycin are used to treat aspects of portal systemic encephalopathy, and Propranolol is used to decrease portal hypertension, making them appropriate in this context.
