A client with a history of renal calculus is prescribed potassium citrate. Which of the following is the primary purpose of this medication?

A. Alpha-blockers do not directly reduce inflammation in the urinary tract. They primarily work by relaxing the smooth muscle of the ureters, which can help ease the passage of kidney stones through the urinary tract.

B. Alpha-blockers do not dissolve kidney stones. They assist with stone passage by relaxing the ureters.

C. This is the correct answer. Alpha-blockers are prescribed to relax the smooth muscle of the ureters, allowing the stone to pass more easily through the urinary tract.

D. Alpha-blockers do not have a direct effect on preventing bacterial growth in the urinary tract. They are not antibiotics.

A. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) does not typically require general anesthesia. It is usually done under sedation or with the use of local anesthesia.

B. The procedure does not involve the insertion of a scope into the urinary tract. ESWL is a non-invasive procedure that uses shock waves to break up the stone from outside the body.

C. This is the correct answer. ESWL involves the use of high-energy shock waves that are focused on the stone to break it up into smaller fragments. The fragments are then passed out of the body through the urine.

D. A urinary catheter is not typically required after ESWL. The client may be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to help flush out the stone fragments, but a catheter is not usually needed.

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