Guidelines For Pediatric Applications - AGFA DR 800 User Manual

Guidelines for Pediatric Applications

Reducing dose for radiographic procedures while maintaining acceptable
clinical image quality will benefit patients. The user documentation of this
product contains a set of guidelines for pediatric applications, applicable in
the U.S.A. Refer to document "Exposure Techniques for pediatric and adult
use with DR 800".
Adopting the Image Gently campaign guidelines and reducing dose for
radiographic procedures while maintaining acceptable clinical image quality
will benefit patients. Please review the following link and reduce pediatric
technique factors accordingly: http://www.imagegently.org
As a general rule, next recommendations shall be observed in pediatrics:
• X-Ray Generator must have short exposures times.
• ΑΕC must be used carefully, preferably use manual technique setting,
applying lower doses.
• If possible, use high kVp techniques.
Positioning the pediatric patient: Pediatric patients are not as likely as adults
to understand the need to remain still during the procedure. Therefore it
makes sense to provide aids to maintaining stable positioning. It is strongly
recommended the use of immobilizing devices such as bean bags and restraint
systems (foam wedges, adhesive tapes, etc.) to avoid the need of repeating
exposures due to the movement of the pediatric patients. Whenever possible
use techniques based on the lowest exposure times.
Shielding: We recommend you provide extra shielding of radiosensitive
organs or tissues such as eyes, gonads and thyroid glands. Applying a correct
collimation will help to protect the patient against excessive radiation as well.
Please review the following scientific literature regarding pediatric
radiosensitivity: GROSSMAN, Herman. "Radiation Protection in Diagnostic
Radiography of Children". Pediatric Radiology, Vol. 51, (No. 1): 141--144,
January, 1973:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/51/1/141.
Technique factors: You should take steps to reduce technique factors to the
lowest possible levels consistent with good image acquisition and to limit the
duration of fluoroscopy sequences and rapid sequences.
For example if your adult abdomen settings are: 70--85 kVp, 200--400 mA,
15--80 mAs, consider starting at 65--75 kVp, 100--160 mA, 2.5--10 mAs for a
pediatric patient. Whenever possible use high kVp techniques and large SID
(Source Image Distance).
Summary:
CAUTION:
Use special care when imaging patients outside the typical adult
size range. Children are more radiosensitive than adults.
DR 800 | Application Examples | 155
0392C EN 20210309 1049