Principles of Anesthesia II Unit I Flashcards
(265 cards)
Lesions located where are rarely diagnosed/picked up on physical exam?
Mediastinum, interstitium and in the center of the lung
What is the relationship of acute vs chronic illness to the effectiveness of a physical exam vs CXR?
Physical exam is good for acute illness, CXR is better for chronic illness
What is under vs overexposure in an xray?
Over = the film is very dark
Under = the film is very bright
If the film is overexposed, what structures are easier to identify?
The T-spine, mediastinal structures and retrocardiac structures
Small nodules and fine structure cannot be seen if the film is overexposed
If the film is underexposed, what structures are easier to identify?
The small pulmonary blood vessels are more prominent
The downside here is d/t the underexposure it may give the appearance of there being infiltrates when none are present
Excessive breast tissue can cause what problem during a CXR?
The breast tissue absorbs some of the x-ray beam causing underexposure
What is the interpretative difference of a PA vs AP x-ray?
The heart will be magnified on an AP projection
This occurs because the heart is farther from the film and the x-ray beam diverges as it goes farther from the tube
When is PA projection of an x-ray commonly done? AP?
PA = generally done on ambulatory patients standing up
AP = on patients lying down, what we commonly did in the ICU
Why do we instruct patients to inspire for a CXR?
To push the liver and abdominal contents down. If not done, the pulmonary vessels can become crowded and the heart will appear larger
What do you need to be aware of if the domes of the diaphragm are at the seventh posterior ribs on x-ray?
The chest should be considered hypo-inflated and the diagnosis of basilar PNA or cardiomegaly should be done with extreme care
What are the 2 acronyms given to help standardize how you read a CXR?
ATMIB and Are There Many Lung Lesions
Both guide you to go; Abdomen first, then thorax, mediastinum, the individual lungs, then both lungs
On a CXR, how many anterior ribs are visible? Posterior?
A = 10
P = 6
What is the order, per lecture, to systematically read a CXR?
Start with the bony framework, then evaluate soft tissues, then the lung fields/Hila, diaphragm and pleural spaces, mediastinum and heart then the abdomen/neck
What structures are you examining when you inspect the bony framework?
You should be able to count and number the ribs, inspect the capulae, humeri and shoulders, and clavicles, and see the diaphragms overlying the posterior aspects of the 10th or 11th ribs (in a normal adult)> The spine and sternum are generally difficult to visualize in detail on standard PA films due to overlying shadows.
What are the soft tissues you are examining on CXR?
Breast shadows, supraclavicular areas and tissues along the sides of the chest
What creates the hilum (lung root) on a CXR?
The shadow of the pulmonary artery and vein that are adjacent to the heart shadow
What borders the right heart/mediastinal border? Left?
Right = IVC, RA, ascending aorta and SVC
Left = LV, LA, pulmonary artery, aortic arch and subclavian artery/vein
What are the 3 main pitfalls to x-ray interpretation?
Poor inspiration, over/under penetration and rotation
Which view of the lungs has extensive overlap?
The PA view
Which lung has more lobes?
R = 3 lobes
L = 2 lobes
The RUL is adjacent to what ribs?
The first 3 - 5 ribs posteriorly, anteriorly, it can extend as far as the 4th rib (more obvious on a lateral view)
The RLL is adjacent to what internal structures on x-ray?
The 6th thoracic vertebral body and extends to the diaphragm
What do the fissures in the R. Lung seperate?
Minor fissure (horizontal) separates the the RUL and the RML, the major fissure (oblique) separates the RLL from the others
Why are fissures not a reliable marker to use when examining a CXR?
They are not always easily identifiable and in some people they may not be completely formed or may even be completely absent on CXR