Respiratory System Diagnostic Procedures

Question 1

Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs)

Answer 1

Testing for the gases present in the blood. Generally used to assist in determining the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood

Question 2

Sputum Culture and Sensitivity (C and S)

Answer 2

Testing sputum by placing it on a culture medium and observing any bacterial growth. The specimen is then tested to determine antibiotic effectiveness

Question 3

Sputum Cytology

Answer 3

Examining sputum for malignant cells

Question 4

Bronchogram

Answer 4

X-ray record of the bronchus produced by bronchography

Question 5

Bronchography

Answer 5

X-ray of the lung after a radiopaque substance has been inserted into the trachea or bronchial tube. Resulting X-ray is called a ‘bronchogram.’

Question 6

Chest X-ray

Answer 6

Taking a radiographic picture of the lungs and heart from the back and sides

Question 7

Pulmonary Angiography

Answer 7

Injecting dye into a blood vessel for the purpose of taking an X-ray of the arteries and veins of the lungs

Question 8

Ventilation-Perfusion Scan

Answer 8

Nuclear medicine diagnostic test that is especially useful in identifying pulmonary emboli. Radioactive air is inhaled for the ventilation portion to determine if air is filling the entire lung. Radioactive intravenous injection shows if blood is flowing to all parts of the lung

Question 9

Bronchoscope

Answer 9

Instrument used to view inside a bronchus during a bronchoscopy

Question 10

Bronchoscopy (Bronch)

Answer 10

Visual examination of the inside of the bronchi; uses an instrument called a ‘bronchoscope.’

Question 11

Laryngoscope

Answer 11

Instrument used to view inside the larynx during a laryngoscopy

Question 12

Laryngoscopy

Answer 12

Examination of the interior of the larynx with a lighted instrument called a ‘laryngoscope.’

Question 13

Oximeter

Answer 13

Instrument that measures the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream

Question 14

Oximetry

Answer 14

Measures the oxygen level in the blood using a device, an oximeter, placed on the patient’s fingertip or earlobe

Question 15

Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

Answer 15

Group of diagnostic tests that give information regarding air flow in and out of the lungs, lung volumes, and gas exchange between the lungs and bloodstream

Question 16

Spirometer

Answer 16

Instrument to measure lung capacity used for

spirometry

Question 17

Spirometry

Answer 17

Procedure to measure lung capacity using a

‘spirometer.’

Question 18

Polysomnography

Answer 18

Monitoring a patient while sleeping to identify sleep apnea. Also called ‘sleep apnea study.’

Question 19

Sweat Test

Answer 19

Test for cystic fibrosis. Patients with this disease have an abnormally large amount of salt in their sweat

Question 20

Tuberculin Skin Tests (TB test)

Answer 20

Applying the tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) under the surface of the skin to determine if the patient has been exposed to tuberculosis. Also called a ‘Mantoux test.’