Neuro Labs & Dx (Exam 4) Flashcards
Skull PET scan (positron emission tomography)
Type of nuclear medicine procedure
Small amount of radioactive substance is used (RADIOTRACER)
What does a PET scan evaluate?
Metabolism of an organ (physiology)
(usually brain or heart)
Carotid Duplex
Combined ultrasound and pulsed doppler technology
Carotid Duplex: Technique
Probe placed over carotid artery
Slowly moved along course of common carotid artery
Frequency of U/S corresponds to blood velocity
Carotid Duplex: Increase velocity =
Stenosis (if carotid artery is narrow it is going to have an increase is velocity)
Carotid Duplex are for
People who are at risk for or might have had an stroke
CVA
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Measures brain’s electrical activity
EEG is used to assess for
Presence and types of seizures
If a patient is going for EEG we should
Hold stimulants for 8 hours
Electroencephalogram: Procedure
Clean scalp
Apply electrodes (16-25)
Bedside or EEG lab
Lasts 20-40 minutes
Epilepsy Monitoring Units
For diagnosis and pinpointing seizure activity and origin
Combines video and EEG recordings of seizure activity
We want them to have seizures (we need information about it)
Electromyography (EMG)
Assess nerve innervations
What patients might have a Electromyography done?
ALS
or
MG
Electromyography: Teaching
Slight discomfort with needle insertion
Myelogram vs Lumbar Puncture
Myelogram:
-X-ray of spinal cord after injection of contrast medium into subarachnoid space for imaging purposes
LP:
-Spinal tap is performed to obtain CSF
Lumbar Puncture: Pre-Procedure
Patient Education:
-empty bladder
-will be placed in lateral recumbent position in fetal position
-placed on tilt table
Have consent form signed
Lumbar Puncture: Post-Procedure
Patient Positioning:
-May or may not have to lay flat for 1 hour after procedure
-(non evidence to support in bed = less headache)
Monitoring
Spinal Headache
How do we treat spinal headaches?
Conservative (initially)
-Bed-rest+analgesics
Moderate / Severe Pain
-Epidural blood patch
-IV caffeine
Electrophysiological Studies
Never Conduction Test
-Measures speed of conduction through a nerve
Types of Electrophysiological Studies
Repetitive Nerve Stimulation (RNS)
Single fiber EMG
Evoked Potential Test
Repetitive nerve stimulation is done to help diagnose
MG
Single fiber EMG is done to help diagnose
MG
Evoked potential test is used to help diagnose
MS
Evoked potential test
Detection electrodes placed on scalp - neck - back
Three Types of Evoked Potential:
-Visual
-Auditory
-Sensory
Visual Evoked potential
Sit before a screen in which checkerboard pattern is displayed
They are told to identify where the red dot it
(most useful indianosing MS)
Auditory Evoked potential
Patient hears a series of clicks in each ear
Sensory evoked potential
Short electrical impulses are administered to an arm or leg
