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Learn About Conditions and Procedures

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.

It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.

This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding

Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.

Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions.

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Pap Test

(Pap Smear; Pap Screening; Papanicolaou Test; Cervical Cancer Screening)

by Editorial Staff and Contributors

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition | Reasons for Test | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Definition

The cervix is the opening to the uterus (womb). The cells on the cervix can become cancerous. Changes detected early can be treated before cancer develops. A Pap test is a way to look for changing or cancerous cells on the cervix.

Cervix

Reasons for Test

A Pap test is often done as part of a pelvic exam. It is done to check cervical cells for changes ( cervical dysplasia) that could develop into cancer. It can also detect cancer cells.

Talk to your doctor about when you should have Pap tests done. Professional health organizations have differing guidelines.

If you are age 21-29 years, you should have the Pap test every 2-3 years.
If you are age 30-65, you should have the Pap test along with the HPV test every 3-5 years.
If you are age 65 or older, you may be able to stop having Pap and HPV tests if you have had normal results (such as, three normal results in a row and no abnormal results in the past 10 years).
Note: You will need to have Pap tests done more often if you have abnormal results. You may also need more frequent testing if you have certain conditions, like a suppressed immune system or a history of cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer. Talk to your doctor about the right screening schedule for you.

Possible Complications

There are no major complications associated with this test.

What to Expect

Do not schedule the Pap test during your menstrual period. If possible, schedule it two weeks after the first day of your period.
Do not use vaginal creams, medicines, or douches for 72 hours before the test.
Do not use contraceptives such as spermicidal foams, creams, or jellies for 72 hours before the test.
Do not have sex for 24 hours before the test.

Tell your doctor if you:

Are having your period
Are pregnant
Have had a previous Pap test showing abnormalities
Have had any cervical procedures, like loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
Are sexually active
Have been exposed to HPV or other sexually-transmitted diseases
Have had abnormal vaginal discharges or vaginal infections
Have had surgery, radiation treatment, or chemotherapy
Are taking birth control pills , hormone pills, or using hormone cream

You will lie on your back on an examination table. You will place your feet in foot rests. The doctor will insert a speculum into your vagina. It will gently open your vagina. A fine brush or spatula will be used to wipe the surface of the cervix and its canal. The speculum will be removed. The cervical cells that stuck to the tools will be placed in a fluid-filled bottle. The cells will then be sent to a lab for testing.

The pelvic exam takes less than five minutes.

A Pap test is generally painless. You may feel some pressure or a small cramp when the cervix is wiped to gather cells.

The results of your Pap test are sent to your doctor within 2-3 weeks. Your doctor will inform you of the results. If needed, she will talk to you about follow-up testing or treatment.

If cells are normal, no treatment is needed. You will continue your regular Pap test screens.
If an infection is found, treatment will be prescribed.
If cervical abnormalities are found, further tests will be done. When your doctor determines the cause, she will discuss treatment options with you. Further tests may include:
- Colposcopy —examination of the vagina and cervix with a low-power microscope
- Biopsy —removal of a small amount of cervical tissue for further testing
- Follow-up Pap tests

Call Your Doctor

After the test, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Foul vaginal odor, pain, or unusual vaginal discharge
Severe abdominal pain or swelling

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

http://www.acog.org

United States Department of Health and Human Services - Office on Women's Health

http://www.womenshealth.gov

Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

http://www.sogc.org

Women's Health Matters

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cervical cytology screening. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Dec;114(6):1409-20.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010. MMWR. 2010;59(No. RR-12):1-110.

Pap smear. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated August 3, 2012. Accessed October 9, 2012.

Last reviewed March 2013 by Andrea Chisholm

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.