Question

A client had a transurethral prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy. He's currently being treated with a continuous bladder irrigation and is complaining of an increase in severity of bladder spasms. Which of the interventions should be done first?

1) Administer an oral analgesic
2) Stop the irrigation and call the physician
3) Administer a belladonna and opium suppository as ordered by the physician
4) Check for the presence of clots, and make sure the catheter is draining properly

Answer 1

(Option 4). In this scenario, the first intervention that should be done is to check for the presence of clots and make sure the catheter is draining properly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client who had a transurethral prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy and is experiencing an increase in severity of bladder spasms while being treated with continuous bladder irrigation should first check for the presence of clots and make sure the catheter is draining properly (Option 4).

Checking for the presence of clots and ensuring proper catheter drainage is important in this scenario because it can lead to bladder spasms. If there are clots or if the catheter is not draining properly, it can cause irritation and increased spasm activity in the bladder. Once the underlying issue of clots or catheter dysfunction is addressed and resolved, the severity of bladder spasms should decrease.