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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
basics of radiation safety
during new-hire orienta-
tions and annual in-serv-
ices, but I'm not sure
they're truly aware of
imaging's ever-present
dangers. They know
they're supposed to wear
a lead apron and a
dosimeter, but they may
not know all the reasons
why. They get a broad education about imaging's dangers, but then forget about
the important details that mean the difference between proper protection and
being placed in harm's way.
What are the recommended annual exposure
dose limits for the extremities, according to the
As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle?
a.
500 millirems
c.
5,000 millirems
b.
1,000 millirems
d.
10,000 millirems
Answer:
c
ALARA should guide your radiation safety efforts. As mentioned, always wear-
ing proper protection, standing on the correct side of the C-arm and judicious
use of the X-ray will limit exposure risks. But don't ignore the importance and
possibility of using a C-arm's low-dose settings and pulse fluoroscopy, instead
of continuous imaging through its full range of motion, to capture enough
images that are of high enough quality to complete most surgical tasks.
C - A R M S A F E T Y
TEAM DEFENSE Staff and surgeons — especially
younger surgeons — are becoming more conscious
of the dangers associated with radiation exposure.
Carol
Cappella,
RN,
MSN,
CNOR
