Which topic would the nurse include when teaching the patient ways to prevent the recurrence of kidney stones?

Choice A rationale

Endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used for evaluating persistent or severe symptoms of heartburn, but it is not part of initial treatment. Patient education focuses on symptom relief and management strategies before invasive testing.

Choice B rationale

Proton pump inhibitors reduce gastric acid secretion by irreversibly blocking H+/K+ ATPase in stomach parietal cells. They are first-line medications for heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease, effectively relieving symptoms and preventing complications.

Choice C rationale

Radionuclide tests are specialized diagnostic procedures for conditions such as gastric emptying disorders. They are not standard educational topics for new heartburn complaints, as they do not provide immediate symptom relief.

Choice D rationale

A barium swallow is used for imaging structural abnormalities of the esophagus or stomach but is not part of initial management for heartburn. It is a diagnostic tool rather than a first-line treatment or educational focus. .

Choice A rationale

Appendicitis is the leading cause of emergency abdominal surgeries, accounting for a significant percentage globally. It results from inflammation of the appendix, often due to obstruction by fecalith or lymphoid hyperplasia. This condition progresses to localized infection, abscess formation, and potential rupture, requiring urgent surgical intervention to prevent life-threatening complications.

Choice B rationale

The assertion that appendicitis is not the most common reason for emergency abdominal surgery contradicts epidemiological data. Diseases like cholecystitis or bowel obstructions occur less frequently and often have alternate non-surgical management options. Appendicitis’s acute presentation and high risk of complications necessitate surgery, maintaining its predominance in emergency settings.