Radionuclide and Brachy Therapy - Hospital Admission Requirements

[Karin Gordon <kgordon@cc.UManitoba.CA>]

I am trying to assemble a comparison of the regulatory requirements
across the world for hospitalization of patients (for radiation control
purposes) undergoing either radionuclide therapy with unsealed  sources
or brachytherapy with permanently implanted sealed sources.  I will post
a summary of responses next week. Unfortunately, I am unilingual
(English), so would prefer answers in that language as translation
services may be difficult to obtain.  To avoid cluttering the listserv,
please send the information directly to my e-mail address
<KGordon@cc.Umanitoba.ca>

1.  Does  your country / or jurisdiction have specific regulations or
regulatory guidelines regarding  isolation (for radiation control
purposes) of radionuclide therapy / brachytherapy patients?


2. Must the patient be admitted to hospital for radiation isolation
purposes?


3. If so, please list the minimum administered  activity (for each
radionuclide used) that would require the patient to be hospitalized. At
what activity level can the patient be discharged from hospital?


4. For patients who are hospitalized, indicate average length of stay


4. If the administered radionuclide is excreted (i.e. I-131 in urine),
may the patient use the regular toilet and sanitary sewer system or is
is there a regulatory requirement to collect the excreta for radiation
control purposes?


5.  If  the regulations permit management of the treated radioactive
patients in their homes, are there criteria by which each patient can be
assessed (home situation, likelihood of compliance, etc).  If so, please
summarize.



6. What instructions or guidelines are given to patients managed at home
post adminstration of therapeutic radioactive substances? (i.e sleeping
alone, contact with infants/children and pregnant women, bathroom
hygiene, public transport, returning to work, etc.)



7. Do radionuclide therapy patients managed at home  receive follow-up
visits by trained personnel?

8. Does this occur on a routine or case-by-case basis?

9. Who does the follow-up home visit?

10. What type of radiation safety training does the visitor have?

11.  What does the home visit involve?  i.e. interview with patient or
family member(s), contamination and/or dose rate monitoring, etc.
(specify other tasks )

12.  What regulatory guidelines does your country have in place
regarding the management (autopsy, embalming, cremation, burial ) of
radioactive cadavers (patients who die shortly after receiving the
radioactive treatment)?



Thank you very much for your participation.  It would be extremely
useful if you could also fax me a copy (in English, if possible) of the
pertinent regulations or guidelines in your country governing the
management of patients undergoing radionuclide therapy or
brachytherapy.

Karin Gordon
Radiation Safety Office
Health Sciences Centre
GC-214, 820 Sherbrook St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada, R3A 1R9

phone    (204) 787-2903
fax        (204) 787-1313
e-mail    KGordon@cc.UManitoba.ca











I would also appreciate receiving a faxed copy (in English, please) of
any gove



My e-mail address is: KGordon@cc.umanitoba.ca