Management of Pt Radiation Dose During Diagnostic X-ray Procedures Flashcards
A holistic approach to patient care is essential in diagnostic imaging and this begins with:
effective communication
Radiographers must limit the pt’s exposure by:
Employing appropriate radiation reduction techniques and using protective devices that minimize radiation exposure.
Three effects of good communication are:
- Reduction in anxiety and emotional stress.
- Enhances the professional image of the radiographer.
- Increases the chance for successful completion of the X-ray examination.
Pt’s must be informed of any pain, discomfort or strange sensations associated with the procedure when?
Before the procedure begins - but done overemphasize it.
An effect of poor communication can be:
If something unexpected happens, pt may move during an exposure resulting in a repeat exposure.
Pt motion can be eliminated or minimized by:
Proper body or body part immobilization.
Motion reduction techniques.
Pt's age Breathing patterns or problems general anxiety Physical or mental discomfort Excitability Fear of the exam Fear of unfavorable prognosis Mental instability
Things that voluntary motion may be attributed to.
How to eliminate voluntary motion:
Gaining cooperation of pt.
Adequate immobilization by the use of radiographic aids.
Chills Tremors Muscle spasms Pain Active withdrawl
Things that involuntary motion may be attributed to
How is involuntary motion reduced?
By the use of high mA with short exposure times.
How does lead shielding protect from radiation?
It attenuates the X-ray beam and reduces or eliminates a radiation dose.
Areas of the body that should be shielded from the X-ray beam whenever possible:
Lens of the eye
Breasts
Reproductive organs
When should gonadal shielding be used?
when these organs are in or within approximately 5 cm of a properly collimated beam.
Gonadal shielding is a secondary protective measure and never a substitute for:
an adequately collimated beam that includes only the anatomy of interest.
Female reproductive organs receive about ____ times more exposure than males for radiographic exams of the pelvic region.
three
For female patients, the use of a flat contact shield placed over reproductive organs reduces exposure by about:
50%
For male patients, primary beam exposure can be reduced as much as ____ when gonads are shielded.
90% to 95%.
When a male is in the supine position, the ___________ can be used to guide shield placement.
pubic symphysis
For females, the shield should be placed _______________ for protection of the ovaries.
about 2.5 cm (1 inch) medial to each palpable ASIS
Four basic types of gonadal shielding devices:
Flat contact shields
Shadow shields
Shaped contact shields
Clear lead shields
Flat contact shields are made of:
lead strips or lead impregnated materials 1 mm thick.
If flat contact shields are used during typical fluoro exams, where is the shield placed?
Under the patient. If the tube is above the patient, the shield is placed over the patient.
Shadow shields are made of:
radiopaque material that is suspended over the region of interest. It casts a shadow over the area to be shielded.
Shaped contact shields are made of and are shaped how?
They contain 1 mm of lead and are contoured to enclose the male reproductive organs. Not recommended for PA projections as it covers only anterior surface.
Clear lead shields
Made of transparent lead-acrylic material impregnated with about 30% lead by weight.
Lens shields for the eyes are what type of shield? (contact, shadow, shape, gonadal)
contact
Gonadal shielding minimizes the number of:
potentially harmful xray induced mutations expressed in future generations.
Specific area shielding significantly reduces exposure to those areas and should be used when ever possible to minimize:
the possibility of stochastic effects.
Standardized technique charts have become even more important because:
digital image receptors are capable of responding to a large variance in X-ray intensities exiting the patient (wide dynamic range)
With screen-film imaging, as kVp increases and mAs decreases, radiographic contrast is ____ and the amount of diagnostically useful information in the recorded image is ____.
reduced, less.
In digital imaging, changing kVp has ____ of an effect on the contrast of the digital image. So the use of higher kVp than is used with scree-film is an advocated practice.
less
Increasing kVp by ____ with the appropriate decrease in mAs reduces patient dose.
15%
Correct film processing enhances ______ and ensures _____
image quality, the film will not deteriorate over time when it is stored.
Poorly processed radiographs leads to:
repeat exams
unnecessary patient exposure
A quality control program ensures:
standardization in the processing of analog and digital images. It includes regular monitoring and maintenance of all processing and image display equipment.
Air gap technique is:
an alternative procedure to the use of a grid for reducing scatter.
Selection of exposure factors for air gap technique are comparable to those used with:
an 8:1 grid (higher than a non-grid technique)
With kVp settings of _____ or above, air gap techniques are not as effective.
- X-rays scatter at greater angles and are less likely to hit the IR at lower kVp ranges (less than 90) and air gap techniques are more useful.
Repeat analysis program is:
an attempt to record the various causes of inadequate quality on occasions when an image has to be retaken.
- Images too dark or too light because of inappropriate selection of technical exposure factors
- Incorrect pt positioning
- Incorrect centering of the radiographic beam
- Pt motion during the radiographic exposure.
- Improper collimation of the radiographic beam
- Presence of external foreign bodies
- Processing artifacts
Categories for discarded images (repeats)
- The program increases awareness among staff and student radiographers of the need to produce optimal quality recorded images.
- Radiographers generally become more careful in producing their radiographic images because they are aware that the images are being reviewed.
- When the repeat analysis program identifies problems or concerns, in-service education programs covering these specific topics may be designed for imaging personnel.
Benefits of a repeat analysis program
Analysis of repeat rates provide:
valuable information for process improvement, helps minimize pt exposures, and improves overall performance of the department.
Who assumes the responsibility for ordering a radiologic exam?
The referring physician.
Increased numbers of people in the US are undergoing diagnostic imaging procedures each year. This results in increased concern about _______________. Imaging personnel must reduce the risk to pts whenever possible by ____________.
the risks from the radiation exposure received, using methods that produce high-quality images with the least amount of radiation.
The quantity of radiation received by a pt during an imaging procedure can be specified in three ways:
Entrance skin exposure, gonadal dose, bone marrow dose. ESE is the easiest to obtain and most widely used.