[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE: Nuclear Cardiology question
You are correct. The external exposure concerns are minimal. The stray
radiation exposure rates during fluoroscopy for coronary interventions are
much higher. Also, by far the biggest hazards of "contaminated" blood are
the pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis, etc., not the radioactivity. If the
cath lab staff are following universal precautions, which they should be
anyway, no one will get contaminated with the patient's blood. The patient's
radioactivity will not interfere with the operation of the x-ray image
intensifier, either. I have participated in dozens of intravascular
brachytherapy cases during which 300-400 mCi of Ir-192 was snaked into the
patients' coronary arteries within the fluoroscopic field of view. No
blooming or glare or anything else occurred to disturb the x-ray imaging.
David L. North, Sc.M., DABR
Medical Physics
Main Bldg Rm 317
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02903
(401)444-5961
dnorth@lifespan.org
> ----------
> From: Engelbretson, David A.
> Reply To: Engelbretson, David A.
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:56
> To: amrso@MCW.EDU; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu; 'medhp-sec@hps1.org'
> Subject: Nuclear Cardiology question
>
> Does anyone have any practical experience, recommendations, and/or
> literature guidance on the safety of performing angioplasty/ cardiac
> catheterization studies on patients who have received Tc-99m sestimibi or
> tetrofosmin injections 0-30 minutes prior to the study? Nuclear camera
> imaging would follow at 30-120 min.
>
> Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the external exposure
> concerns
> would be considered minimal, however what about exposure to contaminated
> blood?
>
> Another concern,...... could the Tc-99m energy affect or interfere with
> the
> x-ray imaging process since the operating kVp could range from 80-120 ?
> Perhaps the patient's body would provide enough attenuation?
>
> You can respond directly to my e-mail address below if you'd like. Thank
> you
> in advance for your help.
>
> Dave
>
> David A. Engelbretson
> Radiation Safety Officer
> Methodist Hospital
> Houston, Texas
>
> dengelbret@tmh.tmc.edu
>
> Phone: 713-441-4553
> Fax: 713-441-0990
>
> ************************************************************************
> You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
> unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
> text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
> with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
> http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/
>
>
************************************************************************
You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/