Pros And Cons Of Pediatric Pulsed Fluoroscopy

Pediatric Pulsed Fluoroscopy When it comes to pediatric care, safety and quality of care are of the utmost priority, especially when it comes to radiation. Fluoroscopy is a continuous x-ray image, allowing for real-time monitoring throughout the body, how is this safe for pediatrics? Pulsed fluoroscopy is pulsing the x-ray beam during fluoroscopy and supposedly reducing the radiation exposure to pediatric patients undergoing conventional fluoroscopy. Although it is known to reduce radiation exposure to the patient and the adjacent medical personnel it still raised some concerns. One concern with pulsed fluoroscopy was that the lower dose may result in a loss in image quality that would be compensated for by the longer fluoroscopy time

Dose Reduction Techniques Diagnostic fluoroscopy procedures are performed daily in radiology suites across the country. These procedures can be safely performed by avoiding some commonly encountered pitfalls. Everyone involved has a role in making sure all patients’ procedures are performed in a safe manner (Hill). There are a variety of ways to limit skin doses during fluoroscopy procedures, some are methodological and some involve taking advantage of technical features present in modern equipment (Mahesh). Intermittent fluoroscopy can reduce total fluoroscopic times considerable. Keeping the x-rays on only a few seconds at a time, long enough to view a current positions. This simple technique is particularly effective when combined with last hold features. Last image hold is a useful feature on modern systems whereby the last image is digitally “frozen” on the monitor after the exposure it terminated (Mahesh). It is a dose-saving feature, since it allows physicians to contemplate the last image and plan their next move without over exposure to the

(Ukisu). Before the procedure the physician should review the patient’s medical history with regards to previous procedures performed. This helps the physician know if the patient is more likely to get a radiation-induced skin injury or if they may have a greater radiosensitivity to low radiation doses. During the procedure the radiologist should use a good fluoroscopic technique and manage the fluoroscopy time appropriately. The ability and knowledge of the use of fluoroscopy as well as radiation dose monitoring is essential. The FDA suggests that fluoroscopic operators should understand system operation, including the implications for radiation exposure and excessive radiation levels (Mahesh). After the procedure, if the fluoroscopy was performed for a long period or if the radiation dose was relatively high, the patient should be advised to examine themselves for skin changes approximately 2-3 weeks after the exposure (Ukisu). Doing this could help determine the cause of a radiation-induced skin injury later