more imaging

Question 1

what can standard xrays find?

Answer 1

intestinal obstruction, air-fluid levels, fecaliths (appendicitis), kidney stones

Question 2

what can an US detect?

Answer 2

solid organs, free fluid in abdomen, degree of ascites

Question 3

what can a CT detect?

Answer 3

all solid organs

=evaluate bowel-wall thickness and presence of air

+best way to look at kdney, pancrease, duodenum, aorta

Question 4

radionucleotide scans?

Answer 4

helpful for localizing site of GI bleed

-abdominal scintigraphy with 99mTc (sulfur colloid or labeled RBCs)
 Can detect bleeding rates as low as 0.1 mL/min (more sensitive that angiography