Chapter 15 - Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology

Vital Signs

Temperature, Pulse, respiration, blood pressure, sometimes pain

acute pain

comes on quickly, can be severe, lasts only a relatively short time

chronic pain

can be mild to severe, persists over a longer period of time, resistant to most medical treatments

auscultation

listening for sounds within the body (stethoscope)

rales

abnormal crackle-like lung sounds

rhonchi

coarse rattling sounds that are somewhat like snoring

stridor

abnormal, high-pitched, musical breathing sounds caused by a blockage in the throat or larynx

bruit

abnormal sound or murmur heard during auscultation of an artery

heart murmur

abnormal heart sounds, most commonly a sign of a defective heart valve

abdominal sounds

absence can indicate ileus which is the stopping of intestinal peristalsis

palpation

examiner feels the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts

percussion

determines the density of a body part by the sound produced by tapping the surface with the fingers

ophthalmoscope

used to examine the interior of the eye

otoscope

used to visually examine the external ear canal and tympanic membrane

speculum

enlarges the opening of any canal or cavity

stethoscope

used to listen to sounds within the body

horizontal recumbent position

supine position

dorsal recumbent position

lying on the back, face up, with the knees bent

lithotomy position

lying on the back, face up, with feet and legs raised and supported in stirrups

prone position

lying on the abdomen face down

Sims’ position

lying on the left side with the right knee and thigh drawn up with the left arm placed along the back

knee-chest position

lying face down with hips bent, knees and chest rest on table

phlebotomy

puncture of a vein for the purpose of drawing blood

arterial stick

puncture of an artery to obtain arterial blood

capillary puncture

used when only a small amount of blood is needed as a specimen

complete blood cell count (CBC)

series of tests performed as a group to evaluate several blood conditions

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

speed with which red blood cells separate from plasma and fall to the bottom of a specialized test tube

hematocrit (Hct)

percentage, by volume, of a blood sample occupied by red blood cells

platelet count

measures the number of platelets in a specified amount of blood

red blood cell count (RBC)

determination of the number of erythrocytes in the blood

total hemoglobin test (Hb)

usually part of a complete blood count

white blood cell count (WBC)

determination of the number of leukocytes in the blood

white blood cell differential count

percentage of total white blood cell count, composed of each of the five types of leukocytes

basic metabolic panel (BMP/Profile 8)

group of 8 specific blood tests, identifies current status of kidneys, electrolyte balance, blood sugar, and calcium levels

blood urea nitrogen test (BUN)

measures the amount of nitrogen in the blood due to the waste product urea

crossmatch test

determines compatibility of donor blood and recipient blood

c-reactive protein test (CRP)

identifies high levels of inflammation within the body

lipid panel (lipid profile)

measures the amounts of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides in a blood sample

prothrombin time (PT)

coagulation test

serum bilirubin test

measures the ability of the liver to take up, process, and secrete bilirubin into bile

thyroid-stimulating hormone assay

measures circulating blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

arterial blood gas analysis (ABG)

measures the pH, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels of arterial blood

genetic testing

done using blood, saliva, hair, amniotic fluid, etc.; looks at a single gene in a person’s DNA

genome testing (genomic screening)

whole genome screening, uses DNA to identify genetic variants that may increase the risk of certain diseases or disorders

routine urinalysis

screens for urinary and systemic disorders

urine pH

below 7-indication of acidosis

above 7-alkaline; indication of UTI

urine SG

wastes, minerals, and solids present

Low: diabetes insipidus

High: dehydration, liver failure, shock

albuminuria

presence of the protein albumin in urine

bacteruiria

presence of bacteria in urine

calcuiria

presence of calcium in urine

creatinuria

increased concentration of creatinine in urine

glycosuria

presence of glucose in urine

hematuria

presence of blood in urine

ketonuria

presence of ketones in urine

proteinuria

presence of abnormal amount of protein in urine

pyuria

presence of pus in urine

urine culture and sensitivity test

identifies the causes of a UTI

stool gram stain

tests for which bacteria are present in stool sample

stool guaiac test

looks for blood in stool

fecal fat test

analyzes how much fat is in sample to determine how well the body is digesting fat

endoscopic surgery

performed through very small incisions with an endoscope and specialized instruments

endoscope

small, flexible tube with a light and lens on the end

laparoscopy

examination of the interior of the abdomen, take specimens to be biopsied, perform surgical procedures

abdominocentesis

surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid

arthrocentesis

puncture of the joint space to remove synovial fluid

cardiocentesis

puncture of a chamber of the heart for diagnosis or therapy

pericardiocentesis

puncture of the pericardial sac for the purpose of removing fluid

biopsy of tissue

removal of small piece of living tissue, can be fluid sample

fine-needle aspiration (FNA)

uses very thin needle

core needle biopsy

uses larger, hollow, needle

contrast medium

makes structures visible

radiopaque

does not allow x-rays to pass through

radiolucent

air or nitrogen gas allow x-rays to pass through

intravenous contrast medium

injected into vein, makes flow of blood or organs visible

barium (Ba)

radiopaque barium-sulfate compound, used primarily to visualize the gastroinestinal tract

x-radiation

beneficial in producing diagnostic images and in treating cancer

interventional radiology

using radiographic imaging to guide a procedure such as biopsy

radiographic positioning

placement of the body and body part that is closest to the x-ray film

radiographic projection

the path that the x-ray beam follows through the patient’s body

extraoral radiography

film is placed and exposed outside of the mouth

panoramic radiograph

shows all of the structures of both dental arches in a single film

intraoral radiography

film is placed within the mouth and exposed by a camera positioned next to the exterior of the cheek

computed tomography (CT)

rotates around patient and produces multiple cross-sectional views of the body, more effective than MRI for imaging compact bone

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI()

combo of radio waves and strong magnet, creates signals that are sent to computer, open and closed MRI options, closed is most accurate

magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

helps locate problems within blood vessels throughout the body

fluoroscopy

visualization of body parts in motion, used with or without contrast medium, used to see movement in intestines and joints of blood flow through veins and arteries

sonogram

image created by ultrasonography

ultrasonography

evaluates fetal development, detects gallstones or blood clots, confirms mass found on mammogram

echocardiography

used to evaluate the structures and motion of the heart

fetal ultrasound

image and evaluate fetal development, 3/4D

transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

used to evaluate heart structures

bone scan

identifies new areas of bone growth or breakdown

thyroid scan

uses radioactive iodine

SPECT imaging

view flow of blood through arteries and veins in the brain

PET

combines CT with radionuclide tracers

formulary

prescription drugs covered by a specific health care plan

addiction

compulsive, uncontrollable dependence

controlled substances

addictive prescription medicines and illicit drugs

adverse drug reaction (ADR)

side effect

adherence or compliance

patient’s consistency or accuracy in following the regimen