Chapter 14: Diagnostic Procedures

Symptoms

Subjective

Signs

Objective
BP, respirations, etc

Auscultation

Stethoscope

X-ray

Roentgen

Ionizing radiation

Bones and other internal structures

AP radipgraph

Film places under the pt and beam shot front to back

Mammography

X-ray for breast

Compressed in plate

Can be combined with needle aspiration biopsy

Contrast media

Many are iodine based

Radiopaque for visualizing structures

Water soluble

Most are hypertonic

Compound Axial Tomography (CAT)

X-ray slices

Masses in the body

Bleeding

IV contrast

Fluoroscopy

Ionizing radiation

Shows images on a monitor in real time- movement

C- arm

Myelography

Ionizing radiation

Spinal cord

Also used for patients with implanted metal (cant do MRI)

Mammography

X-ray (ionizing)

Squish between plates

May be combined with needle biopsy

Computed Axial Tomography

CAT scan

Specialized X-ray (ionizing)

Slices

Masses in the body

Perfect for neuro

Fluoroscopy

Ionizing

Real time

C-arm

Angiography

Peripheral vascular system

Uses contract IV

Guide wire

Used with angiography

Protects tunica intima from the catheter tip

“J-wire”

Cardiac catheterization

Heart function

Coronary arteries

Chambers

Via femoral artery or vein

Sekdinger technique

Cardiac catheter into femoral artery to L coronary system

Under fluoroscopy

Swan-Ganz

Pulmonary catheter to access heart function during surgery

Femoral vein

Through inferior vena cava

R atria (chamber pressure)

Cholangiography

Open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy or CBD exploration

Via incision in cystic duct

Contrast

Find calculi

X-ray or fluoroscopy

Urography

Urinary system

Contrast

Pyelography

Renal pelvis (kidney)

ureter

Positron Emission Tomography

PET scan

Nuclear - CT + radioisotopic scanning

Radiotracer

Cancer finding

Scintigraphy

Isotopic scanning

“Hot spots”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRI

Radio waves - NOT ionizing

Soft tissues - brain or hernias

Contrast = Gadolinium - not iodine

Slices from any direction

Ultrasonography

High frequency sound waves

Easiest on the body - often used as a 1st test

Cannot pass air (lungs)

Doppler

Ultrasound for detecting blood flow

Use gel for intact skin

Sterile or not

Echocardiography

Ultrasound of the heart

TEE= this but with a transducer (MIS)

Electrocardiogram

ECG or EKG

MI detection

Skin stickers

Electroencephalography

EEG

Brain scan

Scalp or on the brain

Electromyography

EMG

Muscle