Recording-2025-03-09T23:12:05.115Z

Cardiovascular System

• The heart consists of left and right sides.

  • Right Side: Carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs for reoxygenation.

    • Blood flow: right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary arteries → lungs.

  • Left Side: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.

    • Blood flow: pulmonary veins → left atrium → left ventricle → aorta (to the body).

• Heart Failure Indicators: Look for heart enlargement in radiographs.

Respiratory System

• Main function: Gas exchange (removing CO2 and adding O2).

• Structure: Air enters through the nose, down the trachea (bifurcates into left and right bronchi), to smaller bronchioles and alveoli for gas exchange.

• Radiographic considerations:

  • Both systems can reveal underlying pathologies in chest radiographs.

Radiographic Techniques

• Gold Standard for Chest X-ray:

  • Posterior-Anterior (PA): X-ray beam travels from back to front.

  • Left Lateral: X-ray beam travels from right to left, capturing the lung fields in depth.

• Positioning:

  • Ideally performed erect; adjustments made for patients unable to stand (e.g., spinal injuries, surgery recovery).

• Ideal Patient Positioning:

  • Raise chin, roll shoulders forward to avoid scapula obstruction, hold breath during exposure.

  • Aim for visualization of heart silhouette and lung fields (ideally showing rib count).

Interpretation of Radiographs

• Criteria for Quality X-rays:

  • Full lung fields visible, good inspiration, appropriate patient positioning.

  • Heart shadow must be visible with clear definitions of surrounding structures.

• Common Errors:

  • Failure to capture entire lung fields or distortion due to patient rotation or improper positioning.

Specific Cases for Radiographs

• Collapsing Lung (Pneumothorax): Be cautious of mediastinal structures masking true lung pathology.

• Left vs. Right Lateral X-ray: Left lateral preferred for clearer visualization of cardiac structures due to less magnification.

• Fluid Detection: PA X-ray upright provides better visualization of potential fluid levels in lungs.

Summary of Procedure

1. Describe the procedure to the patient and gain consent.

2. Position the patient appropriately for PA and left lateral X-rays.

3. Utilize appropriate measures to ensure the best imaging quality (collimation, exposure settings, etc.).

4. Capture images while ensuring patient comfort and safety.