Thoracic scanner

RT : What do you know about the thoracic scanner ? How to prepare the patient for this kind of exam ?

TN : I guess that the patient is addressed to the imaging center when the doctor decides to use a diagnostic exam to assess his diagnosis. Then, the receptionist takes his name and other information concerning some medical history and health insurance. But technically, my knowledge is lacking.

RT : All right. You then welcome the patient and invite him to wait in a box while checking their identity, and ask him to take off a piece of clothes according to the body zone to be explored. What other things can you ask prior to this procedure ?

TN : I guess, naturally, if the patient has brought along any previous X-rays, Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, MRI scans or other medical images, that may be pertinent to the current diagnosis.

RT : Exactly. Now, we have to prepare the patient for the scanner. So, we check with him if there’s any adverse events to the scanner. Can you think of anything on this aspect ?

TN : Maybe if the patient knows anything about what this exam is !

RT : Well, sort of. But then you have to ask him if he has already had a scanner before, and if so, with or without a contrast liquid, and therefore if he’s allergic to iodine or any medication.

TN : Oh, yes of course, and explain to him that the contrast liquid is aimed to highlight the structure of organs or any potential disease, if a regular scanner doesn’t reveal what is suspected.

RT : That’s it. And we also ask the patients, for women I mean, if they’re pregnant, and for all patients, if they’ve had any surgical procedure, joint replacement or metal objects implanted in their bodies, which could be hip replacement or pacemaker for example. Also, if they’re asthmatic, diabetic, hypertensive, or else if they suffer from any renal disorder, or again if they wear any removeable dental or hearing prothesis.

TN : And what would be the next step then ? RT : We’d now install the patient on the back and ask him to hold up his arms. Then, the radio technician inserts the IV in the syringe of the contrast liquid and informs the patient that the product will be injected automatically during the exam, and that he will have a feeling of warmth running all over his body, but that this will disappear just afterwards. We tell him to keep calm and still, and that during the exam we’ll ask him to breathe in and hold his breath for some seconds. That’s all actually.

TN : Is there any special recommendations to give to the patient after the exam is done ?

RT : Oh, well, before that, we hydrate the patient with a saline solution through the IV, and remove it afterwards, and advise him to drink clear fluids all along the day so as to eliminate the contrast liquid with urination. Then we tell him to wait until the radiologist calls him for an interpretation of the exam results before addressing a letter to the prescribing doctor. Ok ?

TN : Fine by me.