Radiation Safety Protocols for Fluoroscopy: Biological Effects of Radiation (Webinar)

X-rays have revolutionized medicine and enabled us to diagnose and help patients that would not have been possible without them. X-rays can cause acute harm, cancer and birth defects if not administered correctly and that is why practitioners must understand and manage patient dose and scattered radiation to insure overall safety. In this fourth episode of the 8-episode series Radiation Safety Protocols for Fluoroscopy we will talk about X-rays potential to do biological harm specifically what they do on a cellular level. Additionally discussed is when a cell is damaged how that damage can sometimes be repaired and the deterministic and stochastic effects of radiation on living cells.

• Avoiding Deterministic Thresholds
• Risks to Fetus
• Stochastic Risk from Low Level Radiation
• Background Radiation & Everyday Risks
• Risk vs. Benefit
• Communicating Risk to Patients & Colleagues

• Explain direct and indirect radiation damage
• Understand Cell Survival Curves
• Define the Law of B&T (Why some tissues are more sensitive to radiation than others)
• Determine Stochastic Dose response curves
• Summarize Linear No Threshold model

This course is designed for physicians and healthcare professionals performing fluoroscopically guided procedures in the cardiac and interventional suite. It is designed to enhance understanding of radiation as a tool that must be managed to protect staff and patients in the use of fluoroscopic equipment. You will learn the biological effects of x-ray radiation and principles of radiation protection. You will improve your understanding of operation and principles of fluoroscopic equipment including exposure (air kerma) outputs, high level control options, dose reduction techniques and procedures for recording data.