Lithotripsy is advised to treat -

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Explanation

Lithotripsy is a medical procedure specifically designed to treat stones (calculi) in the urinary system.
The term itself comes from Greek roots: 'litho' meaning stone and 'tripsy' meaning to crush.
It uses focused shock waves (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy - ESWL) or lasers (ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy) to break large stones into smaller fragments.
These smaller fragments can then be passed naturally in the urine.
It is the standard treatment for renal stones that are too large to pass on their own, causing pain, or blocking urine flow.

Option A: Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys, often due to infection or autoimmune disease. Its treatment involves addressing the inflammation with medication, not breaking up stones.
Option C: Prostate cancer is a malignancy of the prostate gland. Lithotripsy has no role in treating cancer.
Option D: Acute renal failure is a sudden loss of kidney function. Treatment aims to reverse the cause and support kidney function, often with dialysis. Lithotripsy does not restore kidney function.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Treatment indications for lithotripsy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing responsibility post-lithotripsy is to strain all urine to collect stone fragments for analysis, which helps guide future prevention strategies.
Pain management is critical, as passing the stone fragments can cause significant renal colic. Nurses must assess pain levels and administer analgesics as prescribed.
Patient education is vital. Nurses should instruct the patient to increase fluid intake to help flush the fragments and to recognize signs of complications like fever, chills, or persistent severe pain, which could indicate infection or obstruction.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core term in the question: 'Lithotripsy'.
Recall the definition of this medical procedure. Break down the word if possible: 'litho' (stone) and 'tripsy' (crushing). This directly points to a procedure for breaking stones.
Evaluate the given options in the context of 'stone crushing'.
Option A, 'Nephritis', is inflammation.
Option B, 'Renal stone', is a stone in the kidney. This matches the procedure's purpose.
Option C, 'Prostate cancer', is a malignant growth.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 1118-1120

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 527-529

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