Indy Hospital

Since my last post, I have received a PRN position in CT at a major hospital in Indianapolis and for the past 2 weeks I have started to do my clinicals there. I have seen several unusual cases, such as various tumors and lesions, extreme scoliosis, horrible fractures, and the list could go on and on. I feel so grateful to have this experience working at this hospital. It took a while for me to get here, but I have finally worked my way up.

Aortic Dissection

I had a patient this week that was involved in an MVA last year, but was still having some back pain. She had an MRI T-spine that showed a fractured vertebra and a possible tear in the aorta. The referring physician wanted her to have a CTA of the abdomen and pelvis. The results were astonishing! She had a dissected aorta that went from the ascending aorta, down through the descending aorta, and even went through the bifurcation into the right common iliac artery. The study stopped right under the ischial tuberosity, but the dissection was still continuing! She is only in her 50's and I can't believe she is still living and not having too many problems with it!

The first week in February

I went to my hospital location on Monday and we didn't have a patient until 3:45 p.m. and I usually leave at 3 p.m. I was really upset at first, but because I didn't have any patients, I was able to play around with the scanner. I believe it helped me out a lot just learning how one factor can change another.
(For those of you who are wondering... I did end up staying and doing the one patient!)

My hospital clinicals

The new hospital that I have been going to is a smaller hospital (approx. 40 beds) but it has some of the latest MRI and CT scanners! I love being able to learn on newer equipment as well as older equipment. It helps me become more versatile! I'm hoping that I see as much as I can over the next year in MRI so I can become the best technologist that I can! I am also hoping to gain more CT knowledge so I don't lose my skills as a CT tech.

MRI comps

Yesterday was a pretty steady day. I received a thoracic spine comp, as well as a knee and a shoulder. I'm very excited to start my clinicals at the hospital! I hope I can see unusual exams to give myself more experience in the field.

Intro for spring semester 2010

Hello all! I hope everyone is ready to start the new semester. I know I am:) I'm excited to start a new clinical site at a local hospital!!

Chiari Malformation

On Friday, we had a patient that was complaining of headaches on the left side. When we scanned a brain with and without contrast the tech I was working with noticed a Chiari malformation, which is where the cerebellar tonsils are being pressed down by the brain. We went over what it was, when it happens (when the brain and skull are developing), and what can happen when you have one. An example is when the malformation presses on the spinal canal and causes a blockage of signals to the brain. It was really interesting to me to see an anomaly like this.

We also scanned orbits, pituitary, a wrist, a knee, a thoracic spine, and a lumbar spine. The thoracic spine was on a patient that had a very high pain tolerance!! His spine looked horrible! There were so many bulging discs and degenerative changes.