Patient Vital Signs
DRAFT
Rad Tech A – Week 13
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
Vital Signs
•
•
•
•
Body Temperature
Respiratory Rate
Pulse / Heart Rate
Blood Pressure
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
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
Body Temperature
• The human body has an ideal
temperature, and it works to maintain it,
this is called:
THERMOREGULATION
• Ideal temperature: 98.6 degrees F (oral)
• Acceptable range: 97.7 to 99.5 degrees F
• Measurement: oral, axillary, tympanic,
rectal
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
Measuring Body Temperature
– Oral
– Rectal
– Axillary
– Tympanic
Pulse
• Pulse rate: Adult
= 60 to 100 beats
per minute
• Children under 10
= 70 to 120 beats
per minute
• Tachycardia
• Bradycardia
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
Blood Pressure

Systolic pressure =
95-140 mmHg

Diastolic pressure =
60-90 mmHg
120/ 80 Normal

Blood Pressure cont’d

Recorded in millimeters of mercury
(mm Hg) with systolic over diastolic

Normal adult systolic: 95-140 mm Hg
Normal adult diastolic: 60-90 mm Hg

 Persistent
elevation of BP: Hypertension
 Persistent low BP: Hypotension
Respiratory Rate



Respiratory System delivers oxygen to
the body’s tissues & eliminates carbon
dioxide.
Major muscle of ventilation: diaphragm
Measured in “breaths per minute”
12 – 20 bpm
 Children: 20 – 30 bpm
 Newborns: 30 – 60 bpm
 Adults:
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
Pulse Oximeter
• Normal Pulse Oximeter = 95% to 100%
Methods of Delivering Oxygen
Nasal
Cannula
Masks
Ventilators
Oxyhood
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.
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
Chest Tubes and Lines
ENDOTRACHEAL TUBES
CENTRAL
LINES
CHEST TUBES
NASOGASTRIC
TUBES
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)

Intubation of the rt main-stem bronchus with complete
occlusion of the lt bronchus causing lt lung atelectasis.
(A) Distal tip of endotracheal tube in rt main bronchus; (B)
Central venous catheter in the lt subclavian vein.
CHEST TUBES
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!
NASOGASTRIC (NG) TUBE
CENTRAL LINES
Rt hydrothorax
caused by
displacement of a
central venous
line during
dressing change;
1300 ml of
intravenous fluids
were evacuated
via thoracentesis.
Review
• Vital Signs
• Homeostasis
• Body
Temperature
• Pulse
• Respiration
• Blood Pressure
• Mental Status
• Electrolyte
balance
• Pulse Oximeter
• Oxygen
• Oxygen Devices
• Chest Tubes
• Chest Lines