Medical procedures/testing

chest tube collection device

Removal of a chest tube may result in pneumothorax. A radiograph of the chest is needed to rule out pneumothorax prior to mobilization of the patient

central angiography

determines narrowing or blockage of artery in brain; diagnoses aneurysm, tumor, CVA; catheter is used; x rays taken

computed tomography (CT scan)

• brain scan imaging

• rule out severe injuries of SC or brain

discography

evaluates spinal disk; contrast dye injected and CT scan performed

electroencephalography (EEG)

• continuously measure electrical activity of brain using multiple electrodes attached to skull; rules out seizure disorders, etc.

• records brain activity, most helpful in assessing seizure activity.

electromylography (EMG)

• assess nerve and muscle dysfunction or SC disease; rules out LMN disease, etc.

• measures electrical activity in muscle, which is used to assess peripheral nerve injuries and differentiate between neuromuscular disorders.

evoked potentials

• records time it takes for impulse to reach brain

• rules out MS, acoustic neuroma, etc

• are recorded from the presentation of a stimulus. They can be used to determine how quickly and completely nerve signals reach the brain assisting in the diagnosis of several medications (i.e. MS)

myelography

• uses contrast dye and x ray imaging; high risk for HA following spinal tap

• rule out abnormalities of subarachnoid space, spinal nerve injury, herniated disk, tumors

nerve conduction velocity (NVC)

• stimulation of peripheral nerve to determine nerve action potential and nerves ability to send a signal

• rules out peripheral neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome, demylenination, peripheral nerve compression

• measure the speed an action potential travels down a peripheral nerve.

spinal puncture (lumbar)

• cerebral spinal fluid sample L3-4

• rules out hemorrhage, meningitis, inflammation, tumor