Most radiation is
absorbed into the
patient's body.
Sometimes it gets scat-
tered to the side, though,
and this scatter is what
you need to be con-
cerned about. There are
several ways to limit
radiation scatter:
• Collimation.
Collimating the X-ray
beam to focus on the
intended imaging site
reduces the dose deliv-
ered to the patient and
improves image quality
due to a reduction in X-
ray scatter.
• Proper positioning.
Place the X-ray tube underneath the OR table, as far from the patient
as possible, and position the image intensifier as close to the intended
imaging site. Standing near the image receptor side of the C-arm,
where radiation scatter is less than near the X-ray tube, will limit your
level of exposure.
If the C-arm is positioned vertical, or near vertical, keep the X-ray
tube under the patient. (The exception to this is when mini C-arms are
used during extremity procedures. The dose rate is low enough that
it's more practical to have the X-ray tube above the surgical field.)
• Flat-panel detectors found on newer C-arms capture higher quali-
1 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
• BARRIER PROTECTION Newer lead aprons are lightweight and form-fitting
for added comfort, and shield wearers from 95% of radiation scatter.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
