Test 7 Surgical Specimens Flashcards
What are examples of surgical specimens?
Hardware, tissues, fluid, and anything removed from a patient.
CST responsibilities with the specimens are?
Accurate labeling
appropriate handling
Convey info to circulator: like type of test and any other information
safely store specimen until ready to send out
Ensure sent to lab
What are consequences of improper handling?
Misdiagnosis
More surgeries
Negligence- unintentional tort
What is the pathology department?
“the lab”
perform various tests
provide diagnostic info to medical team
What is a biopsy?
Bx
Procedure performed to collect a fluid or tissue sample from the patient
What is histology?
Tissue samples sent to pathology
What is cytology?
fluid samples sent to pathology
What are gram stains?
staining of bacteria samples to determine characteristics of infection, provides quick initial insight into the appropriate course of antibiotic treatment (broad spectrum)
What is culture and sensitivity testing?
Slower test that identifies species of bacteria and what antibiotic may be most effective (specificity)
What is a “gross” test?
ID purpose only
No diagnostic tests
ex. send bone to the lab and the lab says “Yes that’s a bone”
What is a “permanent section” test?
Specimen goes through various diagnostic tests
results in hours to days
may be placed in saline or formalin to preserve specimen
What is a “frozen section” test?
- specimen sent as soon as removed
-results in 10-20 minutes
-time sensitive
-ALWAYS sent dry
-freezes and slices specimen-intraoperative treatments
ex. cancer
What 3 devices do we use to obtain specimens?
Needle biopsies
-core of tissue
Washings
-saline and lukens tube
Brush biopsies
-brush to scrape and collect cells
What is centesis?
How many types of centesis are there?
-removal of fluid from a body cavity
-4
What is paracentesis?
Removal of ascites (fluid) from the peritoneal cavity
What is thoracocentesis?
removal of fluid from the thoracic cavity
What is aminocentesis?
removal of fluid from the amniotic sac
What is pericardiocentesis?
removal of fluid from the sac surrounding the heart
What is a lumbar puncture?
spinal tap
needle inserted between L3 and L4 to collect CSF for analysis
Explain incisional bx and excisional bx
Incisional bx- (into mass) part of tumor, mass, or lesion removed
Excisional bx- (all of mass) entirety of mass removed
Labeling of specimens
-Exactly what dr states
-At least 2 patient identifiers on label
-place label on container not the lid
-special notes likes orientation of mass
What is formalin?
preservative
toxic/ carcinogenic
hospital policies defer
What is saline used for?
prevent specimen from dehydrating
use Tefla for small pieces
Some examples of specimens sent dry are?
frozen sections
renal/ureteral calculi (stones)
foreign objects/hardware
breast tissue
specimens too large for a container
culture swabs
Special considerations for Gynecology specimens are?
Cord blood- collect before placenta removed
-Embryo/fetus Label as product of conception
-placenta- sent if complications or abnormalities
Special considerations for Orthopedic/neuro specimens
muscle biopsy- no ESU, sent on Tefla, kept on ice
Hardware sent dry
Skull flap sent to tissue bank
Special considerations for General and GU
Breast- sent dry, within 1 hr, Hormone receptor array (HRA determines estrogen dependence)
Urinary calculi (stones) sent dry
