Radiation Safety Protocols for Fluoroscopy: Principles and Applications of Fluoroscopy (CE AVIR)

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 episode we will talk specifically about the application of fluoroscopy particularly how do we detect an image and use them in procedures. We will also talk about the components used in fluoroscopy as an image intensifier and the different detectors we use in fluoroscopy.

• Principles of Fluoroscopy
• Early Fluoroscopes
• Image Intensifiers
• Features of modern fluoroscopes
• Overview of Applications of Fluoroscopes

• Understand how an x-ray image is converted to a visible image
• Explain sources of image contrast
• Understand limitations of early fluoroscopes
• Define typical tube energy (kVp) range for fluoroscopy
• Identify components of a fluoroscope

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.