Respiratory Tract Diagnoses Flashcards
What can blood tests diagnose
CBC (infection, low white blood cells, anemia, parasites.
What can a CBC indicate
Infection (Pneumonia) Inflammation (COPD, cancer , chronic bronchitis) Bone marrow issues (low counts) Anemia Blood parasites
Chem panel
Heart Disease
Liver Disease
Kidney Disease
Pancreatic Disease
Clotting tests
Used if Epistaxis and suspicion of bleeding disorder
Check buccal mucosal bleeding time
Assess if can clot within normal time or if other tests needed
PT/PTT test
Coagulation panel
Radiographs
Lower respiratory tract well visualized with x-rays
Often do both lateral sides of chest
Nasal cavity harder to radiography
Why would we use caution when using radiographs
If struggling to breath
Can you X-ray throat and why ?
Yes
To see collapsing trachea
Mouth and nose X-ray’s
Not usually useful
Endoscopy/bronchoscopy
Scope nasal passages .
Pharynx, trachea, bronchi,
Requires anesthesia
CT scan
Very expensive but may be diagnostic test of choice for nasal passages
Needs general anesthetic
What does CT stand for
Computed tomography
Nasal flush
Place Foley into mouth and bend around soft palate
Attach a syringe of saline and flush through nares
Must be anesthetized and have ET tube in place to prevent aspiration
Not common
Transtracheal
Wash or BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage)
Sterile syringe injected directly into trachea, moves into bronchial tree
Catheter and syringe used to suck up any fluid that is coughed up
Thoracentesis
Puncture of thoracic cavity to remove liquid or gas
May require syringe with three way stopcock valve
Cultures
Can culture nasal discharge, pharyngeal swab
Sputum
BAL fluid
Fluid from entering thorax with needle
