X-RAY AND PULSE OXIMETER



Scenario: Nick was admitted to the hospital with a history of lung cancer. He calls the nurse with complaints of a sudden onset of shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Nick's oxygen saturation was checked using the pulse oximeter. It was low and the nurse gave him oxygen via nasal prongs. The nurse notifies the doctor of her findings.

What is a Pulse Oximeter?
A pulse oximeter is a device that is used to detect the oxygen saturation in the blood. It is generally applied to the finger and a patient's oxygen saturation is shown. It is a painless and effective test.

Scenario continued: Nick's anxiety, a decrease in oxygen saturation, a sharp pain in the chest, and shortness of breath seem to point at a pneumothorax. The doctor orders an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis.
Enjoy watching the video:
Mechanical ventilation

What is an X-Ray?
An x-ray is a very quick and simple diagnostic test used to outline organs in the body. It may also show fractures and prove to be very useful in confirming a diagnosis, like Pneumothorax or ARDS. When an x-ray is done, beams of radiation similar to light are sent through the body and captured on film.




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