1. Patient Vital Signs DRAFT
Rad Tech A – Week 13

2. Patient Assessment &Vital Signs
Patient Interview
Role of Radiologic Technologist
Elements of the Clinical History
Vital Signs
Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen Devices
Chest Tubes and Lines

3. Vital Signs Body Temperature Respiratory Rate Pulse / Heart Rate
Blood Pressure

4. Vital Signs Indication of Homeostasis Primary Mechanisms
Heart beat
Blood pressure
Body temperature
Respiratory rate
Electrolyte balance
Physical assessment include measurement of vital signs
Body Temperature
Pulse
Respiration
Blood Pressure
Mental Status

5. Homeostasis
Our bodies are always trying to maintain HOMEOSTASIS – a constancy in the internal environment of the body, naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival.
Ex: sweating to cool body temperature

6. Body Temperature
The human body has an ideal temperature, and it works to maintain it, this is called:
THERMOREGULATION
Ideal temperature: degrees F (oral)
Acceptable range: 97.7 to 99.5 degrees F
Measurement: oral, axillary, tympanic, rectal

7. Body Temperature Normal average body temperature: 98.6 F
Humans can survive between 106 F and 93.2 F.
Hyperthermia Fever, febrile
Hypothermia below normal range

8. Measuring Body Temperature
Oral
Rectal
Axillary
Tympanic

9. Pulse Pulse rate: Adult = 60 to 100 beats per minute
Children under 10 = 70 to 120 beats per minute
Tachycardia
Bradycardia

10. Blood Pressure
Measure of the force exerted by blood on the arterial walls during contraction & relaxation.
Measured pressure when the heart is relaxed: Diastolic
Measured pressure when the heart is contracted: Systolic
Measured with a Sphygmomanometer

11. Blood Pressure Systolic pressure = 95-140 mmHg
Diastolic pressure = mmHg
120/ 80 Normal

12. Blood Pressure cont’d Recorded in millimeters of mercury
(mm Hg) with systolic over diastolic
Normal adult systolic: mm Hg
Normal adult diastolic: mm Hg
Persistent elevation of BP: Hypertension
Persistent low BP: Hypotension

13. Respiratory Rate
Respiratory System delivers oxygen to the body’s tissues & eliminates carbon dioxide.
Major muscle of ventilation: diaphragm
Measured in “breaths per minute”
Adults: 12 – 20 bpm
Children: 20 – 30 bpm
Newborns: 30 – 60 bpm

14. Respiratory Rate Breaths per minute: Adult = 12 to 20
Children under 10 = 20 to 30 per min
Dyspnea- difficulty breathing
Apnea- no breathing
Bradypnea – decrease is breathing

15. Pulse Oximeter
Normal Pulse Oximeter = 95% to 100%

16. Methods of Delivering Oxygen
Nasal Cannula
Masks
Oxyhood
Ventilators

17. Oxygen Oxygen constitutes 21% of atmospheric gases
If O2 levels in the body drop below 21% homeostasis is altered.
Hypoxia: Inadequate amount of oxygen at the cellular level.

18. Chest Tubes & Lines The Rad Tech’s Role
Early detection of problems associated with malpositioned lines.
X-rays assist physicians in determining if tubes and lines are placed correctly
Correct positioning and technical exposure are crucial

19. Chest Tubes and Lines ENDOTRACHEAL TUBES CHEST TUBES NASOGASTRIC TUBES
CENTRAL
LINES

20. Tubes & Lines cont’d
Endotracheal Tubes (ET tubes) – Known as “intubation”
-translaryngeal
-tracheostomy
-nasotracheal
Must be precise in placement: 1-2 inches superior to the tracheal bifurcation (carina)

22. 
Intubation of the rt main-stem bronchus with complete occlusion of the lt bronchus causing lt lung atelectasis.

23. (A) Distal tip of endotracheal tube in rt main bronchus; (B) Central venous catheter in the lt subclavian vein.

24. CHEST TUBES

28. Tubes & Lines (last one)
Common insertion sites for CV lines:
-subclavian vein
-internal jugular vein
-femoral vein
Most evaluated by a chest x-ray
Extreme caution must be used when positioning for images!

29. NASOGASTRIC (NG) TUBE

35. CENTRAL LINES

38. Rt hydrothorax caused by displacement of a central venous line during dressing change; 1300 ml of intravenous fluids were evacuated via thoracentesis.

39. Review Vital Signs Homeostasis Body Temperature Pulse Respiration
Blood Pressure
Mental Status
Electrolyte balance
Pulse Oximeter
Oxygen
Oxygen Devices
Chest Tubes
Chest Lines