7 2 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A 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 7
R
adiation's invisible dangers don't
make them any less real, but surgical teams continue to jeop-
ardize their long-term health by failing to implement common-
sense precautions that reduce their exposure risks. Following
these 5 tips will ensure your surgeons and staff have a healthy
respect for radiation and shield themselves from scatter whenever C-arms are
rolled into the OR.
1
Don't overdo it
ALARA — "as low as reasonably achievable" — must be surgical imag-
ing's guiding principle. Although capturing extra images can provide
valuable information during technically demanding procedures, surgeons need
to rely on snapshots of anatomy that are only absolutely necessary for perform-
5 Steps to Improved C-Arm Safety
Protect your surgical team from
intraoperative imaging's hidden harm.
Richard S. Yoon, MD | Jersey City, N.J.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
DRESS IN LAYERS Proper personal protective
equipment is often overlooked and underused.