Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2019
Keywords:
Action 7 - Radiation protection of children, Paediatric, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Fluoroscopy, Cystography / Uretrography, Barium enema, Barium meal, Workforce
Authors:
M. Ulla, M. L. Padilla, T. G. kreindel, F. Lipsich, G. D. López, A. Dafouz, R. D. García-Mónaco
DOI:
10.26044/esi2019/ESI-0056
Background/introduction
The use of fluoroscopic studies in children still represents a benefit for the diagnosis and treatment of certain pathologies.
But its use generates concern for the known biological effects generated by exposure to ionizing radiation (1,2).
It is known that the risk of occurrence of these effects is related to the radiation dose,
and although this dose for a single diagnostic study could be low,
pediatric patients often receive repeated tests over time to assess and follow up of their conditions,
which could result in relatively high accumulative doses (2,3).
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) estimated considerably higher risks for the pediatric population than for the average population.
This is because children are more sensitive to the effects of ionizing radiation because their bodies are developing and their longer life expectancy,
which results in a greater opportunity to express radiation damage (3).
Likewise,
the ICRP recommended the use of diagnostic reference levels (DRL) as one of the main operational tools in the optimization of radiological protection of patients,
especially in pediatric patients due to the wide constitutional variation they present according to age.
(4).
As it happens in many developing countries,
there is not full awareness of medical radiation hazards.
The trend towards a better comprehension of radioprotection (RP) in health care,
especially after the Bonn call for action,
encouraged some hospitals to better address this issue.
Following the Eurosafe Imaging recommendations,
several actions were taken to improve quality and safety in our Hospital.
The objective of the present work was to present the standardization and optimization of the protocols of the pediatric fluoroscopic studies in our institution,
fulfilling in this way with action 7 of the eurosafe initiative for Radiation protection of children: develop guidelines for good and safe use of imaging,
and for effective communication.