The Image Gently campaign has developed online teaching materials and checklists to help healthcare providers find the lowest radiation dose necessary to perform fluoroscopic procedures on children, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) of Reston, VA.
The new online materials include downloadable presentations for providers to teach their staff methods to reduce dose and maintain quality; a downloadable checklist of dose reduction steps the team should review for each patient; a downloadable outline of dose reduction and quality maintenance steps to take in the department; and information for pediatricians and parents regarding fluoroscopic procedures in children, the ACR said.
When fluoroscopic procedures are indicated, providers, where appropriate, are urged to:
- Pause and child-size the technique (match kVp and mAs to size of child)
- Use the lowest pulse rate possible
- Limit fluoroscopic time and limit use of magnification mode
- Carefully collimate area of interest and utilize appropriate shielding
- Utilize pulsed digital fluoroscopic equipment with adjustable frame speeds, as well as last image hold and capture capability
- Consider ultrasound or, when applicable, MRI
The ACR is urging healthcare providers to visit the Image Gently website for more information.
