This is just a practical tip that I like to show all of my current students at their clinical rotations to improve on efficiency. If the room is set up like this, the patient should only need to be in the room for a matter of seconds to clear the collar (plus whatever time it takes you to hunt down a Radiologist to look at your film).
Make sure you have all of your technical factors pre-set and that you have a 10x12 film loaded crosswise into the upright bucky. Place your left marker in the upper right corner of your pre-collimated light field (the more you collimate, the farther down the spine you will be able to visualize). Make sure the center of the bucky is relatively low to accommodate the stretcher laying flat. I like to put it about mid-femur to my hight. Align the CR with the bucky and don't move it any more.
Bring the patient in the room on the stretcher and either elevate it or lower it to align with your lightfield. This prevents the awkward alignment of the central ray with the bucky after the patient is obstructing your view of the crosshairs.
Make sure to remember to lower the shoulders before you take your exposure. The swimmer's view can be done in the same fashion if needed.
Make sure you have all of your technical factors pre-set and that you have a 10x12 film loaded crosswise into the upright bucky. Place your left marker in the upper right corner of your pre-collimated light field (the more you collimate, the farther down the spine you will be able to visualize). Make sure the center of the bucky is relatively low to accommodate the stretcher laying flat. I like to put it about mid-femur to my hight. Align the CR with the bucky and don't move it any more.
Bring the patient in the room on the stretcher and either elevate it or lower it to align with your lightfield. This prevents the awkward alignment of the central ray with the bucky after the patient is obstructing your view of the crosshairs.
Another thing that may help is to slide the pt as close to the side of the bed as possible, so there is little or no air gap between the pt and the bucky. This is easiest if the pt is on a backboard.
ReplyDeleteGetting the pt as close as possible to the bucky (or shortening the OID) will cut down on magnification of anatomy and blurring of the image.
Dustin
Another thing that may help is to slide the pt as close to the side of the bed as possible, so there is little or no air gap between the pt and the bucky. This is easiest if the pt is on a backboard.
ReplyDeleteGetting the pt as close as possible to the bucky (or shortening the OID) will cut down on magnification of anatomy and blurring of the image.
Dustin
Absolutely right... thanks for including that Dustin. We definitely don't need our patients glowing in the dark!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right... thanks for including that Dustin. We definitely don't need our patients glowing in the dark!
ReplyDeleteI liked this tip. I also phototime x-table c-spines centering at C-7 to get adequate penetration.
ReplyDeletePam
I liked this tip. I also phototime x-table c-spines centering at C-7 to get adequate penetration.
ReplyDeletePam
another excellent tip... I haven't seen anyone do this since film was used, but I don't see why it shouldn't work with CR or dig.
ReplyDeleteanother excellent tip... I haven't seen anyone do this since film was used, but I don't see why it shouldn't work with CR or dig.
ReplyDeleteThat is brilliant, thank you! Why on Earth did I not think of this? As a student that is just about to qualify, this tip will definitely help me. On placement, I always struggle to get round the 'other side' to alter the height of the bucky - such an easy solution. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem... I see a lot of seasoned techs trying to go around as well. If you get in the habit of doing this early, it's hard to imagine doing it any other way.
ReplyDelete