Chest X-Rays

• Tissue Density

  the more dense the subject, the more radio-opaque it is

  air/gas is the least dense = black

  fat

  soft tissues + fluids

  bones

  metal implants is the most dense = bright white
• Systematic Approach to Reviewing Chest X-Rays

  Airways

  Bones

  Cardiac

  Diaphragm

  Exposure

  Fields

  Gadgets

  Hilar
• Airway

  tracheal alignment

  foreign objects

  does trachea splits properly
• Bones

  r there 6-8 ribs in lung space (9-10 posterior)

  fractures

  rib crowding

  clavicle rotation
• Pulmonary Oedema

  excess fluid in lungs caused by decreased cardiac function/heart failure

  bat-wing appearance in imaging

  
• ARDS

  rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs

  provoked by an acute injury to the lunfs that results in flooding of the alveoli

  looks like ground glass in imaging

  causes - pneumonia, aspiration, inhalational lung injury, lung contusion, chest trauma, spesis...

  
• Arterial Blood Gases

  measures pH of blood, levels of oxygen + carbon dioxide in the blood

  give immediate info regarding electrolytes, Hb + lactate levels

  usually taken from radial artery

  tells about activity in resp + metabolic systems

  if one system is disturbed, the other tries to compensate

  pH is the priority over oxygen, body corrects pH first
• ABGs - Measures

  pH - measures the balance of acids + bases in blood

  PaO2/CO2 - partial pressure of oxygen/CO2 in blood

  HCO3 (bicarbonate) - calculated using the measured values of pH + PaCO2 to determine amount of basic compound made from CO2

  BE (base excess) - marker for metabolic issues - quantifies the presence of strong acid/ase

  HB, spO2, lactate, glucose, sodium, potassium...