A TURP patient experiences bladder spasms. Which nursing action should be taken?

• A. Administer antispasmodics
• B. Increase the irrigation rate
• C. Remove the catheter
• D. Have the patient ambulate immediately

Answer: (A)

Bladder spasms after TURP come from irritation of the bladder and detrusor muscle, so the goal is to calm that smooth muscle and reduce contractions. Administering an antispasmodic relaxes the detrusor by blocking acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors, which decreases bladder contractions and relieves the spasms. This helps prevent catheter irritation and potential blockage from urine or clots, making it the most effective immediate intervention. Increasing the irrigation rate isn’t aimed at stopping spasms and can raise bladder pressure or bleed risk. Removing the catheter would interrupt continuous irrigation and drainage, risking retention and bleeding. Ambulating right away after TURP can also increase bleeding risk or disrupt the catheter. So giving an antispasmodic directly addresses the cause of the spasms and is the best next step.