Internal medicine professionals conduct or prescribe tests, treatments, and operations depending on the state of the patient, their general health, and their wellness objectives.
Internists are on the front lines of oropharyngeal cancer screening as the prevalence of head and neck tumors rise. All persons 18 and older should be checked yearly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Internists, like nurses and other healthcare practitioners, are educated to execute a wide range of medical operations, the application of which varies widely depending on the specialty, diagnosis, and treatment. To conduct these treatments and limit patient suffering, maximize results, and eliminate side effects, providers require expertise and competence — and in many instances, extra training and medical qualifications.
Internal medicine doctors often undertake the following procedures:
- Arterial puncture to analyze blood gases
- Endotracheal intubation
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Intravenous (IV) line insertion
- Nasogastric (NG) tube placement
- Urinary catheters placement
- Venipuncture (“blood draw”) to test blood
A few internists have received further training in more invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as thoracentesis and lumbar puncture.
An internist may do the following tests and procedures, among others:
Rhinoscopy and skin testing
Cardiac stress testing, coronary catheterization, echocardiograms, angioplasty, pacemakers, stent insertion, implantable defibrillators, electrophysiology testing and ablation, cardioversion, and the implantation of intra-aortic and intra-ventricular devices are some of the procedures that are performed.
Thyroid biopsy, bone density testing, and hormone testing are all options.
Endoscopy of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts, endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), esophageal manometry, stent implantation, and liver biopsy
Biopsy of the bone marrow, stem cell transplantation, lymph node biopsy, and plasmapheresis
Intubation and ventilator management, tracheostomy placement, chest tube thoracostomy, bronchoscopy
Dialysis and kidney biopsy
Joint aspiration and therapeutic injection
Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guide invasive operations in internal medicine and many other medical specialties. Flexible fiberoptic tools may be used to reach parts of the body that are difficult to reach.