Final answer:
The purpose of a low-volume hypertonic enema, like Fleet, is to relieve constipation and cleanse the bowel, not to lower blood pressure or treat heart conditions. It works by drawing water into the colon to stimulate bowel movements. Hypertonic solutions can lower blood pressure when used intravenously, but this is not the purpose of a hypertonic enema.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a low-volume hypertonic enema, such as a Fleet enema, is not typically used to lower blood pressure or to treat a hypertensive crisis. Instead, this type of enema is used to relieve constipation or to cleanse the bowel before a medical examination or procedure. The hypertonic solution draws water into the colon, which stimulates bowel movements and facilitates the removal of stool. While hypertonic solutions can be used intravenously to manage patients experiencing a hypertensive crisis by lowering blood pressure, in the context of an enema, its primary function is bowel cleansing. In situations where a patient is at risk for heart failure or needs to reduce swelling (edema) due to the excess buildup of fluid in the body, hypertonic solutions could be administered intravenously, but not as an enema. A hypertonic enema is a specific treatment for relieving constipation and is not used for managing blood pressure or heart conditions.