Diagnostic Methods
Diagnostic Methods ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who has a suspected pulmonary embolism. The nurse anticipates that the physician will order which of the following diagnostic tests as the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis?
Compression ultrasound is used to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT), not PE. However, if a DVT is found in a patient with clinical suspicion for PE, the diagnosis of PE can be accepted without further testing.
Is the new reference standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a non-invasive imaging test that uses contrast dye and X-rays to visualize the pulmonary arteries and detect blood clots.
Ventilation-perfusion scan is an alternative test for PE when CTPA is contraindicated or unavailable. It uses radioactive tracers to measure the airflow and blood flow in the lungs and detect any mismatch that suggests a PE.
Chest X-ray cannot diagnose PE directly.
It can only show nonspecific signs of PE such as atelectasis, pleural effusion, or elevated hemidiaphragm. It can also help rule out other causes of chest pain or dyspnea.
CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the new reference standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a non-invasive imaging test that uses contrast dye and X-rays to visualize the pulmonary arteries and detect blood clots.
Choice A is wrong because compression ultrasound is used to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT), not PE. However, if a DVT is found in a patient with clinical suspicion for PE, the diagnosis of PE can be accepted without further testing.
Choice C is wrong because ventilation-perfusion scan is an alternative test for PE when CTPA is contraindicated or unavailable. It uses radioactive tracers to measure the airflow and blood flow in the lungs and detect any mismatch that suggests a PE.
Choice D is wrong because chest X-ray cannot diagnose PE directly.
It can only show nonspecific signs of PE such as atelectasis, pleural effusion, or elevated hemidiaphragm. It can also help rule out other causes of chest pain or dyspnea.