Diagnostic procedures Flashcards
1
Q
Ambulatory Electrocardiography
A
- ECG electrodes are placed on the chest and attached to a small battery-operated recording monitor carried in a pocket or in a small pouch around the neck. the ECG is recorded for 24-48 hours or longer to evaluate cardiac rhythm, the efficacy of medications, and pacemaker function. it is then correlated with a diary of the patient’s symptoms and activities
2
Q
angiography
A
- a radiologic examination that injects a contrast medium onto the blood vessels.
- coronary angiograms are part of the group of procedures known as cardiac catherization
- an angiogram can show the location of plaques in the coronary arteries and the extent of occlusion
3
Q
Bronchoscopy
A
- procedure for direct visualization of the bronchial tree performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
- a bronchoscope is a fiber optic instrument that transmits an image to an eye piece or video camera and can identify tumors, bronchitis, foreign bodies, and bleeding
- tissue specimens may be removed from the lungs by biopsy or bronchoalveolar lavage
4
Q
Cardiac catheterization
A
- a thin catheter inserted into an artery in the leg or arm is advanced to teh coronary arteries where a contrast dye is injectced. teh test can evaluate narrowing or occlusion of the coronary arteries and measure BP in the heart and oxygen in the blood. Some treatments, such as coronary angioplasty, are performed using cardiac catheterization
5
Q
Carotid US
A
- procedure that uses sound waves to examine and visualize the structure and function of the carotid arteries. the purposes are to screen for blockages that may indicate an increased risk of stroke and to evaluate the placement of a stent or the function of the artery after carotid endarterectomy
6
Q
chest radiograph
A
- used to visualize the loctaion, size, and shape of the heart, lungs, blood vessels, ribs, and bones of teh spine
- chest radiographs can also reveal fluid in the lungs or pleural space, pneumonia, emphysema,cancer and other conditions
7
Q
Computed tomography CT
A
- diagnostic test that uses an x-ray machine that rotates around a patient lying on a table. A computer processes teh information from the scanner and creates a picture f the organ and surrounding structures.
- the pictures are slices of the body called tomograms and each picture is called a computed tomography
- the newest models of CT scanners allow pictures of teh coronary arteries to be taken without the need, in some cases, for catheterization
8
Q
Echocardiography
A
- uses high freq sound waves non-invasively to evaluate the functioning of the heart via real time images
- ## an echocardiogram can provide information on the size and function of the ventricles, thickness of the sputum and function of the walls, valves and chambers of the heart.
9
Q
electrophysiologic testing
A
- an electrophysiology study evaluates the rhythm or electrical conduction abnormalities of teh heart using three to five catheters inserted into a blood vessel and threaded to the heart. the recordings help to locate abnormal tissue that causes cardiac arrhythmias
10
Q
Fluroscopy
A
cont x-ray procedure that shows teh heart and lungs
-b/c fluroscopy involves a relatively high dose of radiation, it has been largely replaced by echocardiography and other diagnostic tests. it is still a component of cardiac catheterization and electrophysiological testing
11
Q
Invasive hemodynamic monitoring
A
- cont monitoring of cardiovascular status is performed by intra-arterial catheters and intravenous lines that measure pressure, volume, and temp.
12
Q
central venous pressure CVP line
A
-measures pressure in the vena cava or right atrium
13
Q
thermodilution catheter
A
can be used to measure CO.
14
Q
a balloon catheter, also known as a Swan-Ganz catheter,
A
is placed in the pulmonary artery to obtain the pulmonary artery wedge pressure and left atrial pressure.
15
Q
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI
A
- MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create 3-D images of the heart and blood vessels to assess the size and function of the chambers, thickness and movement of teh walls, extent of damage caused by myocardial infarction or heart disease, structural problems in the aorta and teh presence of plaques and blockages in blood vessels
- MRI is also used to image masses located in the mediastinum, but is of limited value for imaging the lungs
16
Q
Myocardial Perfusion imaging MPI
A
- radionuclide stress test and nuclear stress test, teh test shows how well the heart muscle is perfused at rest and under exercise stress.
- a radionuclide agent is injected into the blood at rest and at a maximum level of exercise. images of the heart reveal areas that have reduced blood supply due to narrowing of one or more coronary arteries
17
Q
pharmacologic stress test
A
- a diagnostic procedure in which cardiovascular stress is induced by pharmacologic agents when contraindications to a routine exercise stress test exist, or when the pt is unable to exercise due to injury or another debilitating condition.
- it is used in combination with imaging modalities such as radionuclide imaging and echocardiography
- pharmacologic agents used include adenosine, dipyridamole, and dobutamine
18
Q
phonocardiography
A
- a diagnostic test that creates a graphic record, or phonocardiogram, of the sounds produced by the heart and great vessels
- the phonocardiogram supplements auscultation and improves the detection of S3 and S4 heart sounds in the diagnoses of heart failure
19
Q
pleuroscopy
A
- procedure that includes examination of the lung surfaces, pleura, and pleural space using a small video camera inserted between the ribs into teh pleural space
- a tissue sample may be taken to biopsy
20
Q
Positron emission tomography PET
A
- imaging test in which a small amount or radioactive material is injected, inhaled or swallowed, depending on the organ or tissue being studied. increased radioactive material tends to accumulate in areas with high levels of chemical activity corresponding to areas of disease
- this presents as a different color or brighter spots on the scan
- a PET scan is useful in evaluating heart disease and cancer
21
Q
thoracentesis
A
- procedure that includes removal of fluid from the pleural space with a needle for microbiologic and cytologic studies
22
Q
venography
A
- radioplaque dye is injected into a vein while an x-ray procedure creates an image of teh vein to detect a clot or blockage
23
Q
Ventilation- Perfusion Scan
A
- also known as lung scan or V/Q scan, the study uses small amounts of radioactive material to study airflow and blood flow within the lungs. it is used most commonly in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
