Editing for Correct Punctuation -- Answer Key

Note: Only corrections to run-ons and fragments have been made, since certain style conventions such as transcribing drug dosages in abbreviations may not have been introduced. Also, some sentences, for example, 6, 8, and 9, could be corrected differently. The suggested answers involve minimal editing, which is the general goal for editing transcription.

  1. The patient's wife called 911, and the paramedics arrived some ten minutes later to find the patient in a semiconscious state with an irregular heart rhythm, the exact nature of which is unknown.
  2. Strict sterile precautions must be taken, using only autoclaved instruments and adequate skin preparation.
  3. Medications: Lasix 20 mg per morning, Mico-K 10 Eq twice per day, Cardizem 30 mg per day, Isordil 20 mg twice per day.
  4. The patient was extubated and noted to have purulent sputum and purulent urine. Blood and urine cultures were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae; therefore, the patient was started on gentamicin.
  5. The patient was seen in routine followup six months since the last examination.
  6. After informed consent was obtained, the patient was brought to the operating room where, general anesthesia was established. The lower abdomen was prepared and draped in the usual sterile fashion and an incision made just below the umbilicus.
  7. The patient should apply the zinc oxide ointment directly to the lesions as often as needed to cool the burning sensation, making sure she washes her hands before and after the application.
  8. The patient is a 17-year-old female, a known IV drug abuser. She presents today to the emergency department. She has an infected area on her left arm. The area is red and tender.
  9. On examination, the head shows no deformities, the nose and throat are clear, the neck has no adenopathy, the chest is clear with normal breath sounds, the abdomen is soft and nontender, extremities are normal, and skin shows no rash or redness.
  10. This 25-year-old Hispanic male presented today with a 1-cm laceration of the right hand at the web space between the middle and ring fingers. [No change is required.]

 

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