Chest Tube
Background A thoracostomy tube is a hollow plastic tube or catheter that is used to drain air, fluid, pus, or blood from the intrathoracic space ( Fig. 15.1 ). The…
Carotid Endarterectomy
Background Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of plaque from the carotid arteries. Carotid arteries are the two major arteries located in the neck, which…
Bronchoscopy
Background Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic technique used to visualize the tracheobronchial tree for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The word “bronchoscopy” is derived from Greek words by combining the prefix “broncho”…
Bladder Scan
Background A bladder scan is a portable noninvasive ultrasound device that measures the volume of urine in the bladder by using ultrasound waves measured in three dimensions. The machine calculates…
Bariatric Surgery
Background Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is any procedure intended to reduce weight in patients with morbid obesity. Bariatric, translated from Greek, literally means “weight medicine.” Bariatric surgery procedures…
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Background An atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is an invasive procedure that is intended to treat AF. AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is caused by disorganized and rapid…
Ankle-Brachial Index Test
Background The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a common noninvasive test used to determine if there is occlusive disease of the peripheral vasculature. It uses the brachial arterial systolic blood pressure…
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Stimulation Test
Background The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test is a relatively noninvasive laboratory assessment that involves the administration of a medication followed by the collection of blood samples. ACTH is a…
Abdominal Ultrasound
Background An abdominal ultrasound is a test that utilizes pulsed high-frequency sound waves (2–5 MHz) to create images of the abdominal organs without ionizing radiation. It creates real-time two-dimensional images…
Introduction to Anesthesia
An anesthesiologist takes care of patients in the periods immediately before, during, and immediately after surgery, which are known as the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative periods, respectively. In the perioperative…
