Maddie, an 87-year-old female, goes to the doctor because of edema in her feet and ankles. She also reports that lately she had become increasingly tired. The doctor reports that Maddie has heart failure due to venous congestion.
1. How did the venous congestion (build-up of blood in vessels) cause lower limb edema?
2. To treat Maddie the doctor prescribes a drug that increases increases the contractility of the heart muscle as well as loop diuretic - is this treatment appropriate? Why or why not?