Radiation Safety Protocols for Fluoroscopy: How Much Radiation is Safe? 2022
X-rays have revolutionized medicine and enabled us to diagnose and help patients that would not have been possible without them. X-rays can cause acute harm, cancer and birth defects if not administered correctly and that is why practitioners must understand and manage patient dose and scattered radiation to insure overall safety. In this fifth episode of the 8-episode series Radiation Safety Protocols for Fluoroscopy we will talk about how much radiation is safe and the deterministic or threshold effects levels of radiation. Additionally, we will talk the statistical risk factors or stochastics effects.
Outline:- ALARA
- Time
- Distance
- Shielding
- X-Ray Caution Signs
- Occupational dose monitoring
- Understand Skin erythema threshold
- Discuss Annual natural background radiation
- Understand Latency period for leukemia & solid tumors
- Explain Absolute vs. relative risk models
- Define Stochastic Dose response curves for high & low rate radiation
This course is designed for physicians and healthcare professionals performing fluoroscopically guided procedures in the cardiac and interventional suite. It is designed to enhance understanding of radiation as a tool that must be managed to protect staff and patients in the use of fluoroscopic equipment. You will learn the biological effects of x-ray radiation and principles of radiation protection. You will improve your understanding of operation and principles of fluoroscopic equipment including exposure (air kerma) outputs, high level control options, dose reduction techniques and procedures for recording data.
Additionally, this program is designed as part of an 8-episode series to bring healthcare professionals who use radiology in healthcare practice up to date with the latest standards of care, including Texas Administrative Code §289.227.