Fluoroscopies aren’t as common as a CT scan or MRI but are used to diagnose and treat specific ailments. Their procedure of working is simple and painless and brings out imaging tests. They work like X-rays and help health providers to know which disease a patient is suffering from. Most people don’t understand how fluoroscopes work and might feel anxious before undergoing a fluoroscopy exam. Those who use fluoroscopy must undergo a fluoroscopy training course to learn how to use the equipment thoroughly.
How a Fluoroscopy Works
Fluoroscopy enables healthcare providers to see imaging tests and know what is going on in the patient’s body. By using them, healthcare professionals can detect any abnormalities in the body and treat them. Fluoroscopy exam can show images in the entire body, including the urinary, skeletal, digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems. They can also provide pictures of body organs such as the kidneys or heart. The doctors can see how the veins and arteries are working and detect any blood clots. They can also see the condition of a patient’s bones. The fluoroscopy exam is also done in the gastrointestinal tract to see its movements.
Why a Fluoroscopy
There are several reasons why people need a fluoroscopy exam. Fluoroscopes are used to;
- Locate any abnormalities in a patient’s body.
- Helps doctors during minimally invasive surgeries, including spine injections, biopsies, and catheterizations.
Fluoroscopes are treatment equipment that provides painless procedures. However, the doctor’s procedure using the fluoroscopy could be painful; hence, the patients must be sedated.
Examinations that Need Fluoroscopy
- Myelogram
- Enteroclysis
- Interventional radiology procedures
- Lumbar puncture
- Interventional neuroradiology procedures
- Small bowel series
- Upper gastrointestinal series
What to Expect from a Fluoroscopy Exam
A fluoroscopy exam is similar to an X-ray. However, the results in a fluoroscopy exam depend on how it’s used. It can either be used to diagnose a disease or during surgery as an image-guiding assistant. Any pregnant patient or suspecting to be pregnant should alert the doctor because the fluoroscopy can harm the fetus. Patients should also inform the doctors if they have any allergies or sensitive to particular medications.
Before the fluoroscopy exam, patients might be needed to eat a specific diet. During the examination, patients could be required to sit, stand, or lay down depending on the body part being examined. After the exam, the patients can review the images within 24 to 72 hours. The images show the part of the body that has a problem or if there are any abnormalities. The patients can then start the treatment process because the doctors know which ailment they are treating.
There are several imaging centers for those who need a fluoroscopy exam. However, before visiting any center, they should do a thorough background check to see the past customer reviews. This way, they’ll be sure that they are on the right track. Though it takes time before the patients can review the images from a fluoroscopy exam, the images clearly show which part or body organ needs treatment. Images from the fluoroscopic are clear and easy to read. The above guide is essential for those willing to do a fluoroscopy exam.
