Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan

A pulmonary angiogram is an invasive procedure where a catheter is inserted through a femoral vein and threaded through the right side of the heart into the pulmonary artery.

A contrast medium is then injected to highlight the lung blood vessels, followed by fluoroscopy X-rays to visualize the pulmonary arteries and detect any blockages or narrowing.

Next, the positron emission tomography, or PET scan is a non-invasive procedure that involves injecting radioactive glucose into the bloodstream, followed by a 30--to 60-minute rest period to allow the tracer to spread throughout the body.

The patient lies on a table that slides into the PET scanner, which detects gamma rays emitted by the tracer as they accumulate in areas of high metabolic activity, like cancer cells, sites of infection, or inflammation.

Pre-procedure nursing responsibilities include checking for allergies and anti-coagulation status and ensuring nothing by mouth status.

Post-procedure, fluid intake should be encouraged, and vital signs should be monitored.