The nurse should recognize which response is the immune system’s reaction to a source of inflammation?

Choice A reason: Inflammation may occur in prostatitis, not typically in BPH. BPH causes urinary retention via physical obstruction from gland enlargement, not spasms. Inflammation is not the primary mechanism, making this incorrect for explaining why BPH leads to retention in the client’s urinary symptoms.

Choice B reason: Abnormal growth in BPH does not cause loss of bladder muscle. The enlarged prostate compresses the urethra, obstructing urine flow. Bladder muscle may weaken over time from chronic obstruction, but this is secondary, making this incorrect for the primary cause of urinary retention.

Choice C reason: Nerve compression is not a primary BPH mechanism. BPH causes retention by mechanically obstructing the urethra, not by impairing bladder sensation. Sensory changes may occur in neurological conditions, but in BPH, physical compression is the cause, making this incorrect for the client’s retention.

Choice D reason: BPH causes the prostate to enlarge, compressing the urethra and obstructing urine flow, leading to urinary retention. This mechanical blockage is the primary pathophysiological mechanism, causing symptoms like hesitancy or incomplete voiding. This explanation aligns with urological evidence, accurately addressing the client’s condition.

Choice A reason: Mixed sensorineural-conductive hearing loss involves both inner ear and middle ear pathology. Ototoxic medications primarily damage cochlear hair cells, causing sensorineural loss. Mixed loss requires dual mechanisms (e.g., infection and ototoxicity), which are less likely than pure sensorineural loss from medication in this acute scenario.

Choice B reason: Presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss, not medication-induced. Ototoxic drugs cause acute, bilateral sensorineural loss by damaging cochlear hair cells, unrelated to aging. The client’s new onset loss linked to medication points to ototoxicity, not presbycusis, making this an incorrect type for this scenario.

Choice C reason: Conductive hearing loss results from middle ear or external ear issues, like wax or ossicle damage. Ototoxic medications target inner ear hair cells, causing sensorineural loss. Conductive loss is unrelated to ototoxicity, as drugs do not affect sound conduction, making this incorrect for medication-induced hearing loss.

Choice D reason: Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by ototoxic medications, which damage cochlear hair cells or auditory nerves, impairing sound processing. Bilateral, new-onset loss aligns with ototoxicity’s pathophysiology, as seen with drugs like aminoglycosides. This is the expected type, supported by audiology evidence linking ototoxins to inner ear damage.